US Military Involved In Taiwan Military Exercise?

[Sierra Mike]

Unusual snippet from The Taipei Times:

Deputy Defense Minister for Armament Affairs General Chen Chao-ming (³¯»F±Ó) yesterday confirmed that the US military plans to send personnel to participate in this year's Hankuang No. 19, exercise but he denied that these personnel will be here mainly for the purpose of simulating evacuation of US citizens.Read all about it at US/Taiwan Military Exercises? (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/01/03/189539)

Wow, this is kind of a big leap...the US has generally eschewed any direct military connection with the Republic of China beyond arms sales. But this article seems to insinuate that an unknown number of US servicemen will be taking part in the Huankuang exercise. Assuming its true and the Taiwanese aren't just blowing it out of proportion, then it should have a rather deleterious effect on US-PRC relations.

SM

[Ravenink]

Assuming this is correct, I do not see the rationale for the United States agreeing to such a thing. With all that is going on in the world, is it really time to pull the PRC's tail any more than usual?

[Sierra Mike]

I rather suspect--and this is just going by what I can glean from the article--the US slice of the operation is apparently centered around being able to evacuate US citizens in the event of a Chinese attack. It would make sense to hold such a drill while the ROC is practicing a wide FTX.

SM