金上不准：201404太平島奪島演習

【Comment】

金溥聰，在太平島奪島演習的消息傳遞上，扮演煞車角色。

太平島演習影片　國防部：無法公開○蘋果（2014.04.29）
http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20140429/388079/%E5%A4%AA%E5%B9%B3%E5%B3%B6%E6%BC%94%E7%BF%92%E5%BD%B1%E7%89%87%E3%80%80%E6%9E%97%E9%83%81%E6%96%B9%E8%A6%81%E6%B1%82%E5%85%AC%E5%B8%83

海軍在本月重返南沙太平島執行實兵演習，這是自2000年年初海軍陸戰隊將太平島防務移交海巡署後，首次重返太平島。藍委林郁方今受訪批評，國防部軍政副部長夏立言昨在外交及國防委員會答應公布演習影片，一夜之間變掛，如此振奮人心的演習，可以讓國人了解國防預算用途，連這種正面宣傳都不會，還怪媒體時常抹黑軍方，他聽說是國安會阻饒，呼籲國安會秘書長金溥聰：「如果是你阻止的，最好收回。」

對此，國防部表示，絕對不會欺騙林郁方，感謝林對國軍的肯定、支持，未來對不涉機敏的國防議題，將適切檢討公布。有關4月10日海軍在太平島執行的訓練任務，國防部說，基於國家整體利益考量，目前不便提供相關的影、照片，懇請立委諒解與支持。

林郁方強調：「夏立言答應我，不能騙我，任何人騙我都要付出代價」，要求國防部要在今天之內對外公布演習影片。林指出，這次在太平島演習，我方潛在敵人越南、菲律賓都知道，我方朋友美國事前也不可能不知道，演習重點在於警告敵人「不要碰我太平島」，不要進入我6千公尺水域，否則我方會以強力武力對付。（陳培煌╱台北報導）。

Legislator: Taiwan Stages Largest Drill Since 2000 in Spratlys○Defense News（2014.04.28）http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140428/DEFREG03/304280021/Legislator-Taiwan-Stages-Largest-Drill-Since-2000-Spratlys

TAIPEI — Taiwan this month mobilized hundreds of marines for its largest military exercise since 2000 near disputed islands in the South China Sea, a legislator said Monday.

Lin Yu-fang said the landing drill was held on the Taiwan-administered island of Taiping, part of the Spratlys — a chain which is also claimed in whole or in part by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei.

Lin, a member of parliament’s defense and diplomacy committee, said the task force from two marine companies, armed with mortars and anti-tank rockets, boarded some 20 amphibious assault vehicles for the landing on Taiping on April 10.

A naval fleet of seven Lafayette-class and Perry-class frigates as well as tank landing ships were mobilized for the drill which practiced retaking the islet after it was seized by invading troops, he said in a statement.

“This was the biggest naval gathering near the islet since 2000 when the marines were replaced by coastguards,” Lin said after a closed-door committee meeting.

“This was also the first time since then that regular troops stepped on the islet,” he said, describing the drill as “of special significance.”

Defense ministry spokesman David Lo confirmed the exercise but gave no details.

Taiping Island is currently guarded by a 130-strong coast guard.

All claimants to the Spratlys, apart from Brunei and Taiwan, have troops based on the archipelago of more than 100 islets, reefs and atolls, which cover a vast area but have a total land mass of less than five square kilometers (two square miles).

The potentially resource-rich sea, home to important trade routes, is a potential military flashpoint. There have been a series of diplomatic rows between countries with overlapping territorial claims in recent years.

The Philippines and Vietnam have complained that China is becoming increasingly aggressive in its actions in the area — such as harassing fishermen — and also through bullying diplomatic tactics.

Taiwan has strengthened its defense capabilities in the disputed area, including expanding a pier and deploying long-range artillery and mortars.