May 14,2008:
For the last four years, China has
been holding an increasing number of exercises to test their ability to come to
the aid of North Korea, in the event of a war with South Korea (and the United
States). On in the event of a collapse of the North Korean government. More Chinese
ground units have been moved to areas just across the Yalu river from North
Korea (and many of the troops set to work guarding the border against the
growing number of desperate North Koreans trying to get out.) There have also
been exercises with engineers practicing erecting bridges across the rivers
that form most of the border between North Korea and China (on the assumption
that U.S. or South Korean warplanes would quickly destroy the existing
bridges.) The latest development has been the deployment of Su-27 fighters (the
most modern in the Chinese Air Force) to the border area. Formerly, most of
these Su-27s were stationed near the coast opposite Taiwan.