Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po said the military drill, the largest and the longest since birth of the PLA has involved an unprecedented number of PLA soldiers and most sophisticated weaponry.

On August 17, two US air carriers held a short military exercise on the South China Sea. An official with the Taiwan authorities is quoted as saying that when PLA tests its new type missiles on Dongshan Island, the US nuclear submarine "Los Angels" passed periphery waters of Taiwan, and the moment is fairly sensitive.

The Paper noted that the US has always interfered in China's internal affairs like the Taiwan issue and has the indulgece to send its air carriers to this sea area. However, China has made various preparations to deal with possible US intervention and Taiwan army's sabotage and the wargames in Dongshan have included the subject on air carriers striking.

Hi-tech Enhances PLA's Combat Capability, Dongshan Drill to Enter New Stage

On the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Xinhua reported Tuesday that PLA has introduced a large number of latest technologies in its training to have substantially improved its overall combat capability. A series of new facilities, technologies and strategies with latest high-tech achievements like electronic system, intelligent disturbance and deceiving, and precision strike have been adopted by the PLA in an effort to shift traditional combat methods to modern methods.

(People's Daily 08/21/2001)