Taiwan recalls civilians for anti-China war games

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Taiwan recalled thousands of civilian reserve troops on Thursday to take part in annual war games, aiming to beef up defences against giant neighbour China which regards the self-ruled island as its own.

The reserve troops were drawn from offices and factories across Taiwan to sharpen combat skills by defending towns and harbours against simulated Chinese attacks.

Up to 6000 civilians will be mobilised for the Han Kuang -- or Chinese Glory -- drills this month, designed to test Taiwan's ability to fend off an invasion from Beijing, which regards the democratic island as a recalcitrant, breakaway province.

China's People's Liberation Army is estimated to have more than 725 missiles pointed at Taiwan to prevent it from pushing for formal statehood under independence-minded President Chen Shui-bian.

"China's continued expansion of its military and increased deployment of missiles against Taiwan has tilted the balance of power," Chen said in a speech after exercises in the central county of Taichung.

"China has never given up the use of force against Taiwan. And this has caused a clear and present threat to the 23 million people in Taiwan."

The defence ministry said the recall of 6000 civilian troops was the largest in Taiwan's history. China and Taiwan split after the Chinese civil war ended in 1949 with the Nationalists (Kuomintang), which once ruled all China, fleeing to the island to escape the victorious communists.

China, for its part, launched an elaborate search-and-rescue exercise in seas off Shanghai on Thursday involving 30 ships and five aircraft.

China said the drill was its largest ever in peacetime, and international representatives, including patrol ships from Japan and Korea, were on hand to observe.

The drills focused on putting out fires, containing oil spills and "thwarting" terrorist attacks, Xinhua news agency said, making no reference to the Taiwan war games.

Taiwan reserve troops fired blank artillery shells to defend a high school in the northern county of Miaoli against a simulated attack, with spirals of thick black smoke cloaking most of the action.

"I live just round the corner and it's good that I can defend my own home, to fight for my wife and children," said 49-year-old Miaoli resident Chou Teh-hsiung, whose shoulder-length hair clearly indicated he was not a professional soldier.

They also successfully repelled pretend-Chinese invaders who tried to steal into Taichung harbour on fishing boats and fired cannon in a simulated navy attack off the island's southern tip of Pingtung.

"I feel very excited because I can do my part to defend my country. I managed to familiarise myself with the weapons in just half a day," said another reserve soldier, Liu Ming-wei, a factory worker.

Chen said China has tried to confuse Taiwan people by passing an anti-secession law in March to sanction the use of non-peaceful means against the island, and warned that people should not lower their guard.

"In the summer, I know there will be another wave of China fever," Chem said, referring to opposition parties visiting China to discuss closer economic and trade ties.

"But there's no need for more contact or understanding. I hope those people who visit China, especially elected officials, will not become a tool of China's to unify with and conquer Taiwan."

- REUTERS