Stars and Stripes:
TAICHUNG, Taiwan — Taiwan’s military on Thursday simulated the repulsing of a Chinese airborne assault on a major air base, amid heighted tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
The exercise at the sprawling Ching Chuan Kang force base near the central city of Taichung was part of an annual five-day live-firing exercise featuring joint operations of the air force, navy and ground forces.
Thursday’s exercise featured soldiers in red helmets playing the role of Chinese troops landing by helicopter while special forces troops were deployed against them and tanks launched smoke screens. Other helicopters and fighter jets flew overhead while paratroopers dove from a C-130 transport plane and air defense missile batteries let fly.
