China Plans Airborne Unit Near Taiwan Strait

Agence France Presse | Aug. 26, 2003

[Tai_Chung]

China is planning to set up a combat airborne division closer to Taiwan in response to the growing independence movement on the island, a report said.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is planning to set up a second airborne division, based in Hangzhou in eastern coastal Zhejiang province, reported the China-backed Wen Wei Po on Tuesday, citing unidentified sources.

The sources said the sitting up of the new airborne division showed the PLA was focusing part of its strategic force on the Taiwan Strait, as "Taiwan indepedence seekers continue to challenge the country's sovereignty".

The report said the stationing of new paratroopers in Zhejiang could cut by half the amount of time needed to fly troops to Taiwan. Currently they would need to be flown from the only existing airborne base in central Hubei province.

It said paratroopers could reach Taipei within an hour.

China has repeatedly threatened to take Taiwan by force if the island declares formal independence.

The island split from the mainland at the end of a civil war in 1949.

[SolutionsOnly]

Slow moving cargo planes packed with paratroops and sounds like a surface-to-air missile turkey shoot in this day and age. I wonder if those paratroops will be issued swim fins.

[dogbyte12]

Wal-Mart should buy more from the Chinese. They can afford a third airborn division there then. It will treat those democracy loving rebels in Taiwan a good lesson.

[Hoplite]

"The sky is falling in the form of Chicom paratroopers!"

Vacation's over - get back to work, you.

[Poohbah]

"The sky is falling in the form of Chicom paratroopers!"

Still in the planes, or jumping out just before they explode?

[Hoplite]

Exploding Chinese paratroopers?

Argh! We're doomed!

[illumini]

As the Chinese planes are moved and loaded, our satellites will be trained on the activities, and NRO will do the right thing. This base brings Chinese forces into striking distance - on the ground - of Taiwanese systems.

[Poohbah]

As the first plane clears the runway threshold, the Taiwanese commandos cap off a Stinger.

Suddenly, a bunch of airborne weenies start getting nervous.

100 miles is a LONG swim home.