-Caveat Lector- China Conducts Mock Taiwan Invasion By JOE McDONALD .c The Associated Press BEIJING (AP) - China conducted a mock invasion of Taiwan with thousands of troops along its southeastern coast this month in a warning to the island not to pursue formal independence, state media said Friday. Taiwan called the exercises routine and told its public not to worry. The Chinese reports came amid a war of words between Beijing and Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, who enraged China's communist leaders in July by demanding they treat his government as a sovereign state. Beijing regards Taiwan, which has been ruled separately since a 1949 civil war, as a renegade territory. It has accused Lee and his democratically elected government of dropping a shared goal of one day reuniting with China, and has threatened to attack if Taiwan declares independence. ``The military exercise provided a spectacular sight of a straits-crossing and landing operation,'' the Xinhua News Agency said. It quoted Zhang Wannian, deputy chairman of China's highest military body, the Central Military Commission, as saying its forces are ``ready to crush any evil attempts to separate the motherland.'' State television showed troops in camouflage fatigues splashing ashore in the exercises, which it said took place on the coast facing Taiwan. Scores of ships and hovercraft could be seen offshore as troops landed by parachute, rappelled down buildings and used flame-throwers. The report came just before Chinese President Jiang Zemin is to meet President Clinton in Auckland, New Zealand. Jiang is reported to be planning to demand that Clinton pressure Taiwan to drop its demand for recognition. The meeting on Saturday between Jiang and Clinton is to be the first high-level contact since China broke off talks on military and other issues after the NATO bombing of its embassy in Yugoslavia on May 7. Taiwan's Defense Ministry, in a statement dated Monday, said Chinese forces had conducted routine drills with ships and aircraft off Zhejiang province and were preparing for exercises off Guangdong province. ``There is no cause for concern,'' the statement said. The statement gave no details, but a ministry spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said China traditionally steps up military exercises in September and October. It was the first outside confirmation of a Chinese military move since Lee's comments sparked an uproar in July. On Thursday, Lee goaded Beijing by declaring at a party meeting that China couldn't invade because it was too weak and preoccupied with economic crises. The Taiwan Strait is 80 miles across at its narrowest point, but in any attack, Chinese vessels would face strikes by Taiwan's hundreds of modern U.S.- and European-made warplanes. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
