DEFENSE/Taiwan armed forces simulate Chinese military landing in Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung, Nov. 30 (CNA) A simulation of a Chinese military beach landing was staged in Kaohsiung on Thursday, enabling Taiwan's armed forces to review locations used to deploy defensive units, a military official told CNA anonymously.

The drill was conducted on Sizhiwan beach, as it has been listed as a potential landing point for Chinese forces in the event of an attack against Taiwan, the official said.

The exercise began with three AAV-7 amphibious landing vehicles being dispatched from a Chung Ho-class tank landing vessel off the coast of Kaohsiung, covered by attack boats operated by special forces.

The first AAV-7 landed on Sizhiwan beach north of Kaohsiung Harbor and used a MK154 mine clearance launcher to remove mines and other obstacles on the beach.

It was followed by two other vehicles, which lingered on the beach for a few minutes before all three AAV-7s returned to the tank landing vessel.

This was the first time such a landing exercise was carried out in Sizhiwan, the official said, noting that the drill will be used by Taiwan's armed forces to better plan the deployment of its units, to eliminate the possibility of Chinese forces conducting amphibious assaults.

The AAV-7 vehicles were first deployed in a similar simulation in April at Jhihben beach in Taitung County ahead of the annual Han Kuang military exercises in late July.

Jhibben beach is also listed as a potential attack point in a landing assault scenario by Chinese forces.