Taiwan stages response to China air attack

The Taiwanese military demonstrated Tuesday how it would respond to a massive air attack from China, showing the island still takes the threat of war seriously, despite improving ties.

Reuters

Staged at an air base near Hualien city, the military demonstrated how it would respond in the event of attacks from bombers or missiles from the mainland, what military analysts say would likely be the first step of a Chinese invasion.

Hundreds of troops operating heavy engineering equipment showed how they could quickly repair runways.

Pilots and logistic supply staff enacted emergency procedures for four French-made Mirage fighter jets, which were ready to take off within six minutes.

The exercise follows the the largest assembly of Chinese warships ever seen in the region earlier this month. The fleet ran drills that began in the East China Sea near Okinawa before moving into the Pacific Ocean.

Ties between Taiwan and China have improved over the past two years, with increased trade and tourism. But Beijing still maintains it could use force against the island, which it still regards as part of its territory, despite Taiwan's split at the end of a civil war in 1949.