(3 Oct 1998) Mandarin/Nat
Anxious not to jeopodise its fragile relationship with China, Taiwan has cancelled a large-scale military exercise on its southern coast.
The announcement was made to appease Chinese authorities on the eve of a visit to Beijing by a senior Taiwanese official.
But the decision came only after a full-scale, televised rehearsal in which tanks, planes and helicopters staged a mock assault in southern Pingtung County.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defence had scheduled a large-scale military display on October 12.
The exercises were designed to show off its newly acquired weapons system in honour of the island's National Day.
But on Friday, it was announced that the display was off - to avoid \"unnecessary misunderstanding and difficulties\".
Taipei feared that showing off advanced new weapons - U-S F-16 and French Mirage fighters and French Lafayette missile cruisers - would have been too blatant a reminder of the island's determination to resist Beijing's coercion.
President Lee Teng-hui himself reportedly participated in the decision to cancel the display.
But the announcement came only after a full-scale, televised rehearsal in which tanks, planes and helicopters staged a mock assault in southern Pingtung County.
Navy frigates also took part, firing missiles off the coast of Pingtung.
SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
\"We also take this opportunity to see the effectiveness of our latest military weaponry.
With this activity we want the people of Taiwan to understand the importance of national security, so they can support the Army.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Fan-Ding Kung, military spokesman for Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence
The military display was cancelled just before Taiwan was to send its top negotiator with China on a crucial visit to Beijing.
Koo Chen-Fu's trip will mark the highest level of bilateral contact since Beijing broke off talks in 1995 in anger over Taiwan's drive for greater international recognition.
Taiwan hopes Koo's informal meetings with Chinese officials will pave the way for a formal restoration of dialogue.
So, in order to sweeten and facilitate talks with China, it decided to cancel the display.
SOUNDBITE : (Mandarin)
\"We don't want to create any side effect on Koo's visit to China so we advised president Lee and he agreed to cancel the upcoming military displays.
SUPER CAPTION: Commander Tang-Fei, chief of General Staff of Taiwan Armed Forces
The cancellation could be counted as the second concession to China in advance of Koo's visit.
Vice President Lien Chan has also shelved plans for impromptu trips abroad that Beijing finds infuriating.
Taiwan split from China after a civil war in 1949 - but China continues to recognise the island as a renegade province.
After repeated threats from Beijing to use force to reunify the island with the mainland, Taiwan spent huge reserves in maintaining a credible defence system.
So far, no plans have been made for the display to be rescheduled.
A second rehearsal scheduled for October 7 was also cancelled.
Though the military exercises have been cancelled, Taiwan is hoping that National Day on October 10 will still be a fitting reminder to the islanders of their country's economic prosperity and democracy.
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