The armed forces of Taiwan Island conducted heavy artillery firing exercises on the Dajia River in Taichung City, according to local newspaper Taiwan News.
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Beijing considers Taiwan to be an integral part of China, and compliance with the “one China” principle is a prerequisite for other states wishing to establish or maintain diplomatic relations with China.
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“The Tenth Army Corps conducted live-fire exercises with heavy artillery on the northern and southern banks of the mouth of the Dajia River in Taichung,” Taiwan News writes.
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According to the newspaper, the exercises used multiple rocket launchers Thunderbolt-2000, self-propelled howitzers M109A2 and M110A2, 122-millimeter mortars, as well as TOW 2A and 2B anti-tank missiles.
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During the maneuvers, the landing of Chinese amphibious forces in the central part of the island was simulated. A total of 372 rounds of ammunition were fired from six different weapon systems from eight firing positions.
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Official relations between the central government of the People’s Republic of China and its island province were interrupted in 1949, business and informal resumed in the late 1980s. Since the 1990s, they have been in contact through non-governmental organizations.
