Deputy Defense Minister for Armament Affairs General Chen Chao-ming (陳肇敏) 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.
"It is not appropriate to categorize the US military personnel who are to come here for the Hankuang No. 19 exercise as an `evacuation team.' If we use the term, it might make people think that the US is preparing to abandon Taiwan," Chen said.
As to how the US military personnel are to be included in the Hankuang No. 19 exercise, Chen declined to comment.
"We are still working on it. It is too early to discuss the details," he said.
At the same time, Chen said he would like to see Taiwan's military have more chances to participate in joint exercises with other countries.
"We hope to see this day come. It is our vision for the future," he said.
Chen made the remarks yesterday at a meeting of the legislature's defense committee as part of his response to inquiries from lawmakers over a report by a Chinese language newspaper that the US military is to send an "evacuation team" to Taiwan to simulate evacuation of US citizens in the upcoming exercise.
Chen acknowledged that some US military personnel will participate in the exercise but he denied that they would be called an "evacuation team" and agreed with some lawmakers who called the term "evacuation team" insulting to Taiwan's people.
Chen declined to say how the US military team is to be involved in the exercise, which is scheduled to be held in either April or May.
Chen did not specify which countries the military wishes to hold joint exercises with, but the US is believed to be one of the choices.
"It is too early to discuss the issue. It is very sensitive," Chen said. "Nevertheless, we will try not to be isolated. We should have more contacts with armed forces from other countries."
Chen said this vision was likely to be realized in the years to come since the military has already started working in that direction.
The military plans to start in 2006 holding joint exercises with a friendly country. Before that, a lot of preparation's have to be made, including turning all combat manuals into bilingual versions with Chinese and English placed side by side.
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