CHINA'S LIAONING CARRIER MAY PASS TAIWAN ON WAY TO HK FOR TRAINING MISSION |遼寧號跨海區訓練 傳路線經台灣海峽

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier departed the naval base in Qingdao on June 25 to begin a training mission. It will make a two-day port call in Hong Kong starting on July 8 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover. Sources say the Liaoning may have entered the Taiwan Strait last night, and the military is watching its movement closely. But experts say if the carrier sails through the waters off Taiwan's eastern coast, instead of the Taiwan Strait, the carrier's course will encircle Taiwan and that represents a clear threat. Chinese media is reporting that China's Liaoning aircraft carrier has departed its home base in Qingdao to begin a training exercise. It is expected to make a port call in Hong Kong on July 8 to take part in celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover. The carrier will pass Taiwan on its way from Qingdao to Hong Kong, and may enter the Taiwan Strait as early as the night of June 28. However, it may also cross the Miyako Strait and pass through the waters off Eastern Taiwan. Such a circling of Taiwan will raise concerns in Taiwan's military. ==HUANG CHIEH-CHENG Assis. Prof., Grad. Inst. of Int'l Affairs and Strat. Studies, TKU== If they cross the first island chain into the western Pacific, it will be crossing deep waters, possibly with equipment from non-friendly countries underwater. On the other hand, the Taiwan Strait is like its own doorstep. It will be comparatively safer. Academics said that the two routes will differ in safety. However, the Liaoning had already circled Taiwan once this January, and similar exercises will only become more frequent. Military experts also said that the carrier's stop in Hong Kong, with civilian tours, is a show of force. ==SUNG YU-NING Military Expert== It is a show of force. A carrier will have to reach a certain level of power for them to have the confidence to openly allow civilians to see. This is an opportunity for propaganda. ==CHEN CHUNG-CHI Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson== We will make the situation known to the public at the right time. But currently, we cannot comment on outside speculation. The Ministry of National Defense said that it will be prepared for the Liaoning training exercise. The military is also taking concrete action against the growing threat from the PLA. Taiwan's first Apache helicopter combat squad was officially commissioned in the morning of the 28th, with the ceremony featuring a line of AH-64E helicopters. The Apache is known as the "tank buster" and will be a strong defense for security in the Taiwan Strait. Translated by JOHN CHEN 中國航空母艦「遼寧號」，6月25日駛出青島基地，展開今年第一場跨海區訓練，預計7月8日抵達香港，停留兩天，並開放市民登艦參觀，作為香港回歸20周年活動一部分。根據了解，遼寧號最快今晚就可能進入台灣海峽，台灣也正嚴密監控。戰略學者分析，遼寧號到香港的路線中，如果不走台海中線，而選擇經由台灣東部海域，等同繞台航訓，對台灣威脅意味濃厚。 中國媒體報導，第一艘航空母艦「遼寧號」已經於6月25日從青島基地出港，展開今年第一場跨海區訓練，準備7月8日到香港，參加七一回歸20周年活動，但從青島到香港的路線，台灣成了必經之地，如果一路南下，可能深夜就會進入台灣海峽，但如果選擇穿越宮古海峽，經由台灣東部海域，再從巴士海峽到香港，則等於是繞台航訓，敵情顧慮也會提升。 ==淡江大學戰略研究所助理教授 黃介正== 穿越第一島鏈進入西太平洋 它面對的是深海域 也就是說水下可能 有一些非友善國家的裝備 所以相對來講 走台灣海峽 就是等於走自己家門口 它的安全系數相對就比較高 學者認為，兩條路線的安全指數不同，但遼寧號今年一月已經首度繞台演訓，中國未來類似的航訓，只會多不會少，而這次遼寧號到香港，還開放市民登艦參觀，軍事專家指出，具有展示戰力的意涵。 ==軍事專家 宋玉寧== 代表一個戰力的展示 基本上我的航艦大概有 到達某一種程度的戰力 所以我可以有這個自信 公開給一般民眾去看 等於有一個戰力宣傳的機會 ==國防部發言人 陳中吉== 適當的時機 我們會公布狀況 但目前為止 這些外界揣測 我們不做評論 對於遼寧號的航訓，國防部強調，會做好相關的準備工作。而面對日益增加的共軍威脅，國軍也用實際行動做好準備。陸軍航特部首個阿帕契直升機作戰隊上午正式成軍，成軍典禮中，一字排開的AH-64E相當壯觀，由於阿帕契曾經在戰場中，摧毀數以百裝甲車的戰績，贏得「坦克殺手」的美譽，未來將成為捍衛台海安全最有力的屏障。 記者 綜合報導