"The scenarios to be designed for the drills will be how our military forces would defend the country on their own. All the units involved will be our regular and reservist units. No foreign troops will participate in the drills," the defense ministry said in a statement.

The United Daily News earlier quoted a defense ministry source as saying that Singaporean troops would "participate" in the maneuvers in northeastern Taiwan's Ilan county from April to May.

"Singaporean units could play the role of 'red army' in the mock invasion drills," the source said, alluding to the Chinese military. "They would land in Ilan to be armed with tanks and armoured vehicles."

The drills are designed to test Taiwan's ability to defend itself against China, which has repeatedly threatened to invade the island if it declares formal independence.

The newspaper said Taiwan's military had previously turned down Singapore's request for its troops being trained here to take part in the exercise on national security grounds.

"But President Chen Shui-bian thought Taipei must further its ties with Singapore," said the defense ministry source. "He hopes he could visit Singapore again during his tenure."

Chen visited Singapore while he was mayor of Taipei.

Singapore has been operating three training camps in Taiwan under a military cooperative program known as "Operation Hsing Kuang" (Starlight).

The London-based Jane's Defense Weekly said last year China had offered Singapore facilities on Hainan Island as part of its efforts to sabotage the city-state's longstanding military links with Taiwan.

It said Singapore had been reluctant to accept the offer, the first to a foreign country by China, for fear of changing its current arrangement with Taiwan.

Singapore recognises Beijing but maintains close links with Taiwan which China regards as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

Taiwan sent air force and naval officers to Singapore during the city state's early years of independence in 1965.

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