The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has outlined the latest findings from the Han Kuang annual military exercise in a report submitted to lawmakers on Friday.
The 41st iteration of the exercise, held from July 9 to Saturday last week, was the longest in its history and featured war games without predetermined outcomes, reflecting a shift toward more realistic training scenarios.
The ministry’s report was delivered to the Legislative Yuan in advance of a Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow, which is to be attended by Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄).
Photo: Cheng I-hwa, AFP
Should China attempt an invasion, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is expected to deploy amphibious and air assault units to capture strategically vital locations, including New Taipei City’s Bali District (八里), the Port of Taipei and Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), the report said.
Similar sites in southern and central Taiwan are also potential targets, it said.
Taiwan’s forces should improve integration of firepower across diverse systems, including rocket and tube artillery, air defense, anti-tank guided missiles and drones, it said.
Photo: Cheng I-hwa, AFP
The military’s objective is to delay enemy advancements by inflicting heavy casualties and extending the time required to break into Taiwanese territory, the ministry said.
Considering the extended time required for calling up reservists, the ministry plans to deploy regular units for defense preparations, starting this year, it said.
The exercise confirmed that the military should continue assessing its use of civilian logistical capabilities and methods, focusing on enhancing mobility, modular pallet use and the dispersion of stockpiles, it added.
The national defense logistics management system should bolster its ability to create a unified operational picture to better support combat units, the ministry said.
The ministry would coordinate with other ministries and agencies to strengthen defensive measures at key airports, harbors and beaches, it said.
The armed forces are expediting the acquisition of Hesco bastions, which can be rapidly and flexibly deployed to form military barriers, it added.
The exercise involved simulating the laying of mines in the waters off beaches and harbors that the PLA would likely target, with the aim of inflicting losses on their landing forces and preventing supply ships from accessing these locations, it said.
Civilian logistical resources were employed to deploy wave breakers and abandoned motor vehicles as makeshift anti-landing obstacles, the report said.
Units across all branches of the military practiced signal discipline, de-identification and operating from dispersed positions to enhance force preservation in a real conflict, it said.
This year’s Han Kuang exercise also simulated the military’s raising of alert levels in response to intelligence, shifting the mission from countering “gray zone” skirmishes, cyber warfare and disinformation to preparing for a full-scale conflict, it said.
The aim was to ensure a swift and efficient transition to fighting a full-scale conflict, it added.
The military has begun integrating ground combat units from the army, navy and air force garrisoned in Taipei to strengthen the defense of the nation’s capital, the ministry said.
Counter-airborne and air mobile operations at Songshan airport and defense bridges were key elements of the exercise in the Taipei metropolitan area, it said, adding that for the first time, the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit was used to transport troops.
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