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xinhui · 03-19-2008, 01:57 AM

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

No 'abnormal' activities by China: MND

CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- There are currently no signs of any "abnormal" activities by the Chinese military across the Taiwan Strait, four days ahead of the presidential election, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday.

Lisa Chi said that intelligence indicated that Chinese military fighters, naval battleships, ground troops and artillery were all in regular training operations."There are no signs of abnormal movement," she said.

According to the MND, much more activity involving armament has been observed in China over the past weeks compared with the same period in 2007. However, jet fighter activities in the airspace over the Taiwan Strait had decreased compared to 2007 and Chinese military aircraft had been observed voluntarily flying away from the middle line of the strait, she added.

It is believed that China would most likely want to avoid any conflict with Taiwan in the run up to the presidential election.

Asked about the U.S. carrier "Kitty Hawk" leaving its base in Yokosuka, Japan, earlier in the day, Chi confirmed that it had, but declined to comment on its possible mission and destination and whether it will pass through the Taiwan Strait.

Chi made the remarks at the MND's last press conference before the March 22 presidential election to issue updates on its observation of China's military activities. The MND began holding weekly press conferences of this kind in late February.

According to an MND report issued March 3 on the recent military activities in China, there are more than 1,300 missiles of various kinds, with the capability to reach anywhere in Taiwan, deployed in China's southeastern provinces of Fujian,Zhejiang,Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan.

Missile brigades in those provinces are equipped with a total of around 700 fighters, a combined ground force of 60,000 personnel, and more than 90 naval ships, and they have been observed in regular activities, the report said.

At Tuesday press conference, Chi was asked about the MND's "unexpected" announcement the previous day that Military Intelligence Bureau Director Shen Shih-chih had been transferred to the post of deputy command of the army.

The announcement drew the attention of the local media, as it came just days before the presidential election.

Chi however reiterated that it was nothing more than a "regular adjustment of high-ranking personnel" within the military.

The MND on Monday announced what it called a "normal personnel reshuffle," saying that Ke Kuang-ming, chief of the MND Office of Telecommunication Development, will replace Shen. The move had nothing to do with the presidential election, the ministry stressed.

On Tuesday, Chi explained that Shen had been in the post for nearly two years, and that Ke was eligible to take over the position because he met the professional requirements of the military.

Chi noted that this was the second regular personnel reshuffle since March 1, when the first change, which resulted in some vacancies, was made.

03-19-2008, 01:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
xinhui Lei Feng Protege *Defense Professional* Join Date: 05-17-06 Posts: 656	Wednesday, March 19, 2008 No 'abnormal' activities by China: MND CNA TAIPEI, Taiwan -- There are currently no signs of any "abnormal" activities by the Chinese military across the Taiwan Strait, four days ahead of the presidential election, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. Lisa Chi said that intelligence indicated that Chinese military fighters, naval battleships, ground troops and artillery were all in regular training operations."There are no signs of abnormal movement," she said. According to the MND, much more activity involving armament has been observed in China over the past weeks compared with the same period in 2007. However, jet fighter activities in the airspace over the Taiwan Strait had decreased compared to 2007 and Chinese military aircraft had been observed voluntarily flying away from the middle line of the strait, she added. It is believed that China would most likely want to avoid any conflict with Taiwan in the run up to the presidential election. Asked about the U.S. carrier "Kitty Hawk" leaving its base in Yokosuka, Japan, earlier in the day, Chi confirmed that it had, but declined to comment on its possible mission and destination and whether it will pass through the Taiwan Strait. Chi made the remarks at the MND's last press conference before the March 22 presidential election to issue updates on its observation of China's military activities. The MND began holding weekly press conferences of this kind in late February. According to an MND report issued March 3 on the recent military activities in China, there are more than 1,300 missiles of various kinds, with the capability to reach anywhere in Taiwan, deployed in China's southeastern provinces of Fujian,Zhejiang,Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan. Missile brigades in those provinces are equipped with a total of around 700 fighters, a combined ground force of 60,000 personnel, and more than 90 naval ships, and they have been observed in regular activities, the report said. At Tuesday press conference, Chi was asked about the MND's "unexpected" announcement the previous day that Military Intelligence Bureau Director Shen Shih-chih had been transferred to the post of deputy command of the army. The announcement drew the attention of the local media, as it came just days before the presidential election. Chi however reiterated that it was nothing more than a "regular adjustment of high-ranking personnel" within the military. The MND on Monday announced what it called a "normal personnel reshuffle," saying that Ke Kuang-ming, chief of the MND Office of Telecommunication Development, will replace Shen. The move had nothing to do with the presidential election, the ministry stressed. On Tuesday, Chi explained that Shen had been in the post for nearly two years, and that Ke was eligible to take over the position because he met the professional requirements of the military. Chi noted that this was the second regular personnel reshuffle since March 1, when the first change, which resulted in some vacancies, was made.