The United States will take part in Taiwan's annual military drills later on this year for the first time in a period of two decades, according to a newspaper report.
In its Thursday edition, the China Times quoted unidentified Taiwanese military sources as saying officers from the US Pacific Command will be in the Taiwanese military command center in Taipei during the drills, named "Han Kuang" or "Chinese Glory".
The US presence is aimed at preparing the American command in case a war breaks out between Taiwan and China, the paper said.
Meanwhile, Vice Defense Minister Chen Chao-min declined to confirm or deny the report during a session on Thursday in the legislature.
According to the report, in the course of the drills, the American officers will help the Taiwanese conduct a computer-simulated war by providing intelligence about Chinese troops. The military has yet to announce a date for the war games.
In order to remain low profile, the US officers will take part in the drills in the name of preparing for a possible evacuation of American expatriates, the report added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
