Taiwan Chiefs Visit Quemoy, Matsu Tours Precede China’s Reported Plans For War Games In Region

Amid escalating tensions with China, Taiwan’s leaders told front-line troops on Thursday to be on guard but avoid provoking the mainland.

Visiting the island of Quemoy, just a mile from China, President Lee Teng-hui thanked the troops for guarding Taiwan against “endless maneuvers by Communist Chinese troops.”

On Matsu island, 5 miles from the mainland, Premier Lien Chan told soldiers to “step up war readiness” but handle any military crisis “with a non-provocative and non-evasive attitude.”

Lee, who is seeking a fresh term in the March 23 presidential election, and Lien, his running mate, visited the islands amid reports that China is preparing large-scale war games in the area.

The China Times quoted unidentified military officials as saying the exercise will be staged after next week’s Chinese New Year holiday, at Fujian province’s Pingtan Island, about 55 miles south of Matsu and 85 miles north of Quemoy.

The Defense Ministry issued a statement saying China has reinforced troop levels around Pingtan Island but that it believed Chinese military activities would not be restricted to the island.

The Ministry has said China has up to 150,000 troops stationed in Fujian and has increased its military planes and vessels there. But it says it does not believe China is planning a war.

Chinese officials refused to comment on the reports of an exercise.

Taiwan is the seat of the Nationalists who fled the Communist takeover of the mainland in 1949.

Its relationship with China, warmed by a surge in trade and civilian contact in recent years, turned sour last June when Lee visited the United States. China has since staged missile tests and military exercises, accompanied by warnings that it may use force to recover Taiwan.