Taiwan will launch large-scale exercises involving three of the four branches of the military today to strengthen the country’s defenses amid a growing threat from China.
The annual Han Kuang military exercises — the nation’s most important series of war games involving the army, air force and navy — will begin with five days of war games around the country. Five of the round-the-clock drills would be opened to the media, certain private groups and lawmakers, Ministry of National Defense officials recently said.
More than 200,000 military personnel are to practice innovative high-tech and asymmetrical tactics and use them to attempt to fight off simulated invasions by Chinese forces, the officials said.
“All existing military equipment will be incorporated [into the exercises],” said Major General Hau Yi-chih (郝以知), assistant deputy chief of the General Staff for Operations and Planning.
The second part of the Han Kuang exercises, scheduled for July, includes computer-aided war games. Starting on July 16, the five-day computer-aided war games will test Taiwan’s information and electronic warfare capabilities.
Aside from the Han Kuang exercises, the three armed services will hold other drills and war games this year to test their defense and combat capabilities.
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