Taiwan performs well in war games, say defence officials

The Taiwanese military performed well in defending the island during a simulated battle with the mainland, allowing the island to retain 45 per cent of its combat power even after five days of fierce fighting, according to initial results from the annual Han Kuang computer exercise.

The simulated war games, which took place from April 17 to April 22 and adopted a cross-strait war scenario in 2008, saw the Taiwanese navy proving itself capable of destroying 70 per cent of mainland destroyers.

After 120 hours of fighting over five days, 60 per cent of the Taiwanese naval force was determined destroyed, while 55 per cent of the air force was destroyed and 50 per cent of the island's ground forces killed.

The overall result showed the island was still able to hold onto 45 per cent of its forces to prevent the mainland from occupying the island, according to the initial result revealed by defence officials.

The participation of two additional US Kidd-class destroyers in the battle was the key to the navy doing well in safeguarding the Taiwan Strait, they said. Taiwan has purchased four Kidd-class destroyers from the US, and it used two in the simulated war games.

The destroyers helped to repel 25 per cent of the enemy's forces before they could reach the island's northern shores, the officials said.