Taiwan beats off Chinese 'invasion'

Patriot missiles streaked across the light-blue Asian sky and F-16s bombarded ships yesterday as Taiwan beat back a simulated Chinese invasion in the island’s largest-ever military exercise.

The “Hankuang” or “Chinese Glory” manoeuvres are meant to test Taiwan’s ability to muster its army, navy, air force and marines against the forces of its long-time rival mainland China, just 160 kilometres (100 miles) to the west, across the volatile Taiwan Strait.