April 5, 1997*
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By early 1997, the reunification talks between China and Taiwan fell apart. Besides the failure of the talks, a growing movement to declare Taiwan as a sovereign nation continues to grow. Feeling confident that the West, especially the U.S., would continue to support them, the Taiwanese government, in March, declared that Taiwan would be henceforth be known as the Republic of Taiwan. The reaction from China was predictable. The PRC (People's Republic of China) quickly denounced the move and threatened military action. At first, the U.S. decided to stay out of the dispute hoping for a peaceful resolution. China struck under the guise of a "military exercise." The PRC forces invaded Taiwan! The invasion began with airborne assaults followed by amphibious landings all along the coast. Within two weeks, much of northern Taiwan had fallen to the PRC. Caught flatfooted by the invasion, the U.S. was slow to react to the war. When threats of economic sanctions failed, the U.S. President ordered the 7th and 6th Fleet to secure control of the Formosa Straits and impose a United Nations sanctioned cease-fire. China did not take well the intervention in what they considered to be an internal matter. On March 25, hundreds of Silkworm missiles struck at the U.S. Fleets. While the damage was moderate, the war between China and the U.S. became a reality. Determined to secure the rest of Taiwan, the PRC Army went on the offensive again. This time they headed for the city of Taitung. Expecting only Taiwanese troops, the PRC ran into something entirely different; U.S. Marines.*
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You are to hold onto the city at all costs!
