Military schedules Hankuang No. 17

Military officials said yesterday that next year's Hankuang exercise will take place in March and April and denied the unusually early date had any relation to a large-scale troop review planned for the Oct. 10 National Day.

"We have decided to hold next year's Hankuang No. 17 joint-forces exercise between March and April, rather than the usual time of May to June, due to concerns about weather conditions and the maintenance of sufficient intervals between regular exercises in a year," said Lieutenant General Hu Cheng-pu (胡鎮埔).

Hu, deputy chief of the general staff for operations, is a major figure in the planning and execution of combat training and exercises in the armed forces. The Hankuang-series exercise is the largest routine joint-forces exercise held each year. Next year's exercise is to take place in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan.

Hu said the military planned to hold the annual Hankuang-series exercise between March and April each year in the future.

"Another consideration behind the change of time for the exercise is connected to the real conditions in the Taiwan Strait. We estimate the most likely time for China to launch an invasion against Taiwan is July," Hu said. "If we can upgrade the combat readiness of our troops to its highest level in the lead-up to the crucial period each year, we will be better prepared for any action by the Chinese military," he said.

Hu made the remarks yesterday to the Legislative Yuan's Defense Committee as part of his response to inquiries from legislators over media reports on the issue.

Hu denied media speculation that an earlier schedule for next year's Hankuang exercise had anything to do with the planned large-scale review of troops and weapons in front of the Presidential Office on National Day on Oct. 10 next year.

"The decision to begin the Hankuang No. 17 earlier than usual is purely for the reasons I have specified. In addition, we have not yet finalized a decision on whether to hold the large-scale review," Hu said.

"We will make the final decision by year's end. It has to be approved by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁)," he said. Hu also said the status of relations with China would be a factor in deciding whether to hold the troop review.

Sources said that the military has actually worked out several alternative plans for holding the troop review on national day.

The alternative plans include replacing the troop review with a carival parade if cross-strait relations turn sour in the runup to Oct. 10.

"There is no rush to make the decision on the plan. There will be still enough time for us to prepare for the review even if we make the decision in March," a defense official said.