Airborne operations to test the defensive capabilities of a vital air force base and a simulation of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) forces making a beach landing were the main events on the fourth day of the annual Han Kuang military exercises yesterday.
Fighter jets and C-130 Hercules transport planes dotted the sky over Cingcyuangang Air Base (清泉崗) in Taichung in the morning, with paratroopers descending from the planes in a combined combat operation with infantry forces and armored battalions to repel a simulated enemy advance on the base.
Troops delivered parachuted pallets of munitions and supplies from the C-130 planes, while the successful drop of a 2.75-tonne Humvee drew applause from observers.
Photo: CNA
The exercise was coordinated by Air Force 439 Composite Wing and Army Airborne Special Forces Command, postulating a raid by PLA airborne units to take over the base, with combat operations by troops to secure the vital airport.
Elsewhere, the simulation had a mock PLA “tank lander vessel” make an amphibious incursion onto a beach in Pingtung County’s Fangliao Township (枋寮), where “enemy” forces rolled out battle tanks, self-propelled howitzers, armored personnel carriers and trucks aiming to cut off main roads.
According to Ministry of National Defense officials, the war game in Pingtung showed that the region’s units were able to mobilize quickly in the defense of key installations while mounting countermeasures to neutralize PLA tank and armored vehicle forces before they could make significant advances inland.
Photo: CNA
Live-fire drills saw artillery bombardment on offshore target areas in the Taiwan Strait at the Kengzikou range in Hsinchu County, with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in attendance.
The drills incorporated 18 8-inch M110 self-propelled howitzers and 20 M109 self-propelled 155mm howitzers from the 6th Corps of the 21st Artillery Command joined by the 542nd Armored Brigade.
A total of 304 shells were fired during the drill to fend off ships attempting to make a landing, with a total of 800 soldiers and officers participating.
Ma said Taiwan would not let its guard down and remains committed to self-defense.
The week-long exercises combine the mobilization of army, navy and air force units to test joint operations in the face of threats from China.
A new radar system, developed by National Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology, was deployed for the first time during the exercises.
The Point Defense Array Radar System (PODARS) was used during a drill by artillery troops and the army’s 542nd Armored Brigade, which involved medium-range and long-range shelling.
It was deployed near the artillery forces in tandem with Avenger anti-aircraft missile launchers, according to a ministry official.
The army has 14 PODARS, which cost a total of NT$6.165 billion (US$187.6 million), the official said.
The system was introduced to the public on July 4 to demonstrate national defense capabilities.
Additional reporting by CNA
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS