TAIPEI, Taiwan (Reuters) -- China has withdrawn about 3,000 soldiers from a military exercise on an island facing Taiwan, the Taiwan defence ministry has said, prompting speculation Beijing may have cancelled plans for further war games.
The southeastern Chinese island of Dongshan was the scene of a major military drill in May, when 18,000 troops from the Chinese People's Liberation Army simulated an invasion of Taiwan, over which Beijing claims sovereignty.
Defence ministry spokesman Huang Shuey-sheng said more than 3,000 ground troops moved to Dongshan in mid-August had since been gradually pulled out.
"We will continue to monitor to see whether they plan to cancel the Dongshan drill," he said. "The likelihood (of a drill) is quite low but we will continue to watch the situation."
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/08/30/china.taiwan.reut/