The annual Han Kuang military exercises are to begin today with tabletop wargames to test defense strategies against possible Chinese invasion scenarios, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday.
Unlike previous editions, this year’s wargames would not feature computer simulations and would instead involve physical maps, the ministry said.
The computerized format was dropped because physical maps allow generals to meet face-to-face to discuss strategy and brainstorm ides, a military source said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense
In this way, top-level military officials can better come up with an understanding and reach consensus on defensive strategies, which would be beneficial to the planning of overall military operations, the source said.
Furthermore, unlike computerized wargames, which involve large numbers of personnel from military branches, tabletop wargames only feature a small number of senior military personnel and their staff, the source said, adding that it is a better option given a local COVID-19 outbreak.
The wargames are to run until Friday. They comprise the first phase of the two-part exercise that is held in two stages, the latter being live-fire drills, which are to be held from July 25 to 29 at military drill grounds nationwide.
The annual exercises, first held in 1984, are the nation’s largest military exercises involving all branches of the armed forces and designed to test the country’s combat readiness in the event of a Chinese invasion.
This year’s edition would also incorporate lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to sharpen combat readiness against a Chinese invasion, the ministry has said.
They are to focus on testing the military’s asymmetrical warfare capability, its ability to wage cognitive warfare and mobilize reserve forces, as well as its overall defense readiness by incorporating civilians, said Major General Lin Wen-huang (林文皇), who is in charge of combat and planning affairs at the ministry.
A study published by online booking platform Expedia revealed searches for travel to Taipei have ballooned 2,786 percent following the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions due to the city being a “designation dupe” for Seoul. The TikTok trend for duping — referring to substituting a designation for a more inexpensive alternative — helped propel interest in Taipei, it said in a consumer survey titled “Unpack ‘24,” which was conducted from September to October in 14 countries. Location dupes are “every bit as delightful as the tried-and-true places travelers love,” Expedia trend tracker Melanie Fish said of the year’s popular alternatives, which
SAFETY IN REGULATION: The proposal states that Chiayi should assess whether it is viable to establish such a district and draft rules to protect clients and sex workers The Chiayi City Council passed a motion yesterday to assess the viability of establishing a regulated red-light district. The council yesterday held its last session of the year, at which its fiscal 2024 budget was approved, along with 61 other proposals. The proposal to assess the viability of establishing a red-light district was put forward by independent Chiayi City Councilor Molly Yen (顏色不分藍綠支持性專區顏色田慎節). The proposal cited 2011 amendments to the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法), which stipulate that city and county governments can pass autonomous regulations on the sex trade to manage the industry and guarantee industry workers’ rights. A ban on the
A small-scale protest that called on the government to cancel its plan to welcome Indian migrant workers in a bid to tackle Taiwan’s labor shortage was held in Taipei yesterday. During the protest, comprised of a few dozen people staged in front of the Presidential Office on Ketagalan Boulevard, the protest’s chief initiator, a woman identified only as “Yuna” said they wanted the central government to reconsider allowing migrant workers from India to enter Taiwan. Most people in Taiwan had little knowledge about the potential plan to allow in Indian migrant workers until a report in the media last month, she
STABILITY AND CHANGE: Flagging in recent polls, Ko this week pledged to maintain President Tsai’s foreign policy, with an emphasis on improving China relations Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday reiterated that he is “deep-green at heart” in response to accusations that he is pivoting his campaign to align closer with the ideology of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the face of flagging polls. Ko made the remark at an agricultural policy conference in Taipei, repeating his comments from an interview with CTS News a day earlier. Ko told the CTS host that he would continue to pursue President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) national defense and foreign policy in general, but with an emphasis on establishing a rapport with