Taiwan Postpones Military Exercise

Under pressure from Washington and from domestic critics, Taiwan said Tuesday that it would postpone for at least three months a live-fire military exercise on Matsu Island, the heavily fortified Taiwanese base that lies less than two miles off mainland China.

“To avoid any misunderstanding and to ease tensions across the Taiwan Strait and in this region, the Defense Ministry announced that this training drill will be suspended until June 30, 1996,” a statement issued in Taipei by defense officials said.

Before the announcement was made, Beijing also cautioned Taiwan’s leaders against reigniting military tensions.