THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996               TAG: 9603230305
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: FINAL 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   21 lines

U.S. FORCES

The battle group led by the aircraft carrier Nimitz was in the South

China Sea off the coast of Vietnam on Friday, a day or so away from

Taiwan, the Navy said. It is expected to join the carrier

Independence and its battle group off Taiwan this weekend. Officials

said a decision has not been made whether ships from either U.S.

battle group will sail into the Taiwan Strait, an international

waterway.

by CNB