Taiwan's military trains for a Chinese invasion on the beach
Posted May 30, 2019 7:00 am
FANGSHAN, Taiwan (AP) - Taiwanese tanks and soldiers have fired at simulated Chinese forces in an anti-invasion drill on the island's coast.
The live-fire drill on Thursday at a beach in southern Taiwan is part of an ongoing annual exercise designed to showcase the military's capabilities and resolve to repel an attack from across the Taiwan Strait.
China claims the self-governing island as its territory. Taiwan split from China amid a civil war in 1949.
The simulated response to a Chinese landing included assault helicopters, fighter jets and missiles launched at targets in the sea.
The Defense Ministry said the joint army-navy-air force operation tested the island's combat readiness in the face of the Chinese military threat.
M110 self-propelled Howitzers fire during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
The Associated Press
An M109 self-propelled Howitzer fire during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Sorthern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
The Associated Press
Taiwan military M109 self-propelled Howitzers fire during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Sothern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
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Taiwan's AH-64E Apache attack helicopter launches flares during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
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Taiwan's AH-64E Apache attack helicopter launches flares during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
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MK-82 low-drag general-purpose bombs are dropped by F-CK-1 fighters, Taiwan's indigenous defense fighter (IDF), during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
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Two U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets launch flares during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
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The first team of Taiwan artillerywomen poses for the press during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
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The first team of Taiwan artillerywomen poses for the media during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
The Associated Press
Taiwan's military M109 self-propelled Howitzers move during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
The Associated Press
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