Taiwan yesterday launched its largest-ever military drills intended to guard against Chinese threats to invade, including using “gray zone” tactics deployed by China that stop just short of open warfare.
This year’s 10-day live-fire Han Kuang exercises are the longest yet and follow the delivery of a range of new weaponry from tanks to uncrewed waterborne drones.
The drills began with exercises to counter the actions of China Coast Guard and maritime militia ships that have been harassing Taiwanese vessels around outlying islands close to the Chinese coast, the Ministry of National Defense said.
Cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns are seen by Taiwan as high-intensity “gray zone” actions that are likely to precede a broader Chinese assault.
Concerns are that China could launch an invasion under the guise of petty harassment, and the drills are to include fortifying ports and possible Chinese landing points in Taiwan.
The early stages of the annual Han Kuang exercises would also focus on testing how Taiwan’s military can decentralize command in the event of a crippling communications attack.
Photo: CNA
Over the 10 days, the drills would expand to assess Taiwan’s combat readiness against a full-scale attempt to seize the nation, including simulated anti-landing exercises, with regular forces from all the services backed up by the largest number of about 22,000 reservists, the ministry said.
Exercises would continue around the clock under realistic conditions taking into account all possibilities, the ministry said, in a possible attempt to counter criticisms that past exercises have veered on the performative.
“We are learning from the situation in Ukraine in recent years and realistically thinking about what Taiwan might face ... in real combat,” a senior defense official said, highlighting the need to protect command and communications systems.
Photo: CNA
“Commanders have to think what issues their troops might face and they need to pass them down to their subordinates,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation.
The exercises this year will for the first time feature new High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) made by Lockheed Martin along with Taiwan-developed Tien Chien II (天劍二, Sky Sword II) surface-to-air missiles.
About 300 reserve troops moved into classrooms of a junior high school in Taoyuan emptied for summer holidays, receiving instruction on mortars and rifles.
Civil defense elements would also be tested, including the creation of emergency supply stations, as well as the use of Taiwan’s expanded air-raid shelters.
The defense official said the goal was to show the international community that Taiwan is determined to defend itself.
The ministry called on the public to show patience with any disruptions to flights or traffic and not to believe false information distributed about the exercises.
Taiwanese defense officials said they believed that the Chinese military would be closely monitoring the drills.
By 6am yesterday, Taiwan had detected 31 Chinese aircraft sorties and seven naval ships, the ministry said in a statement.
About 24 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, it said.
Asked about the drills and Taiwan’s use of US-supplied HIMARS, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) in Beijing said that “our opposition to US-Taiwan military ties is consistent and very firm.”
Taiwan’s “attempt to seek independence through force or relying on foreign [actors] will never succeed,” Mao said.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday said that the Han Kuang exercises were “nothing but a bluff.”
“No matter what weapons are used, Taiwan can’t resist the [Chinese] People’s Liberation Army’s sharp sword against independence,” Chinese defense ministry spokesman Jiang Bin (蔣斌) was quoted as saying by state broadcaster China Central Television.
Regional military attaches and analysts say the drills are being closely watched, both for China’s response and to gauge improvements in Taiwanese resilience.
China has carried out several large-scale military drills around Taiwan since President William Lai (賴清德) took office last year, as his government strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims, saying it is up to the nation’s people to decide their future.
China specialists at risk analysis firm Eurasia Group said Beijing would “likely” carry out more military exercises at the end of this month.
Additional reporting by AFP
In his National Day Rally speech on Sunday, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) quoted the Taiwanese song One Small Umbrella (一支小雨傘) to describe his nation’s situation. Wong’s use of such a song shows Singapore’s familiarity with Taiwan’s culture and is a perfect reflection of exchanges between the two nations, Representative to Singapore Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) said yesterday in a post on Facebook. Wong quoted the song, saying: “As the rain gets heavier, I will take care of you, and you,” in Mandarin, using it as a metaphor for Singaporeans coming together to face challenges. Other Singaporean politicians have also used Taiwanese songs
NORTHERN STRIKE: Taiwanese military personnel have been training ‘in strategic and tactical battle operations’ in Michigan, a former US diplomat said More than 500 Taiwanese troops participated in this year’s Northern Strike military exercise held at Lake Michigan by the US, a Pentagon-run news outlet reported yesterday. The Michigan National Guard-sponsored drill involved 7,500 military personnel from 36 nations and territories around the world, the Stars and Stripes said. This year’s edition of Northern Strike, which concluded on Sunday, simulated a war in the Indo-Pacific region in a departure from its traditional European focus, it said. The change indicated a greater shift in the US armed forces’ attention to a potential conflict in Asia, it added. Citing a briefing by a Michigan National Guard senior
CHIPMAKING INVESTMENT: J.W. Kuo told legislators that Department of Investment Review approval would be needed were Washington to seek a TSMC board seat Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) yesterday said he received information about a possible US government investment in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and an assessment of the possible effect on the firm requires further discussion. If the US were to invest in TSMC, the plan would need to be reviewed by the Department of Investment Review, Kuo told reporters ahead of a hearing of the legislature’s Economics Committee. Kuo’s remarks came after US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Tuesday said that the US government is looking into the federal government taking equity stakes in computer chip manufacturers that
US President Donald Trump on Friday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) told him China would not invade Taiwan while Trump is in office. Trump made the remarks in an interview with Fox News, ahead of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “I will tell you, you know, you have a very similar thing with President Xi of China and Taiwan, but I don’t believe there’s any way it’s going to happen as long as I’m here. We’ll see,” Trump said during an interview on Fox News’ Special Report. “He told me: ‘I will never do
RSS