Taiwan Launches Largest Military Drills Amid Rising China Tensions

On July 22nd, soldiers participated in the initial day of the annual Han Kuang military drills at a fishing port in Taoyuan, Taiwan. The drills, the largest ever conducted by Taiwan, commenced with simulated attacks on its command systems and infrastructure, anticipating a potential Chinese invasion.

The initial phase of the Han Kuang exercises will concentrate on evaluating the military's ability to decentralize command in the event of a debilitating communications attack. Over the subsequent ten days, the drills will broaden to assess Taiwan's combat readiness against a full-scale attempt to seize the island. A senior defense official emphasized the importance of protecting command and communication systems, drawing lessons from the situation in Ukraine.

Taiwan views cyber-attacks and misinformation campaigns as high-intensity "grey zone" actions that are likely to precede a broader Chinese assault. This year's Han Kuang exercises will involve the largest number of reservists, approximately 22,000, and will feature new High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Taiwan-developed Sky Sword surface-to-air missiles.

China considers democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has increased military pressure around the island in recent years, including a series of war games. Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control, and any attack on Taiwan could trigger a wider regional conflict.

The drills will evolve to include 24-hour operations involving army, naval, and air forces to defend Taiwan's coasts. Civil defense elements will also be tested, including the establishment of emergency supply stations and the utilization of Taiwan's recently expanded air-raid shelters.

China's defense ministry dismissed the Han Kuang military exercises as a "bluff." A Taiwanese senior defense official stated that the drills aim to demonstrate to China that they face an unpredictable foe and that any invasion scenario is becoming more complex, while also showing the international community Taiwan's determination to defend itself. Taiwan’s President and his government strongly object to China’s sovereignty claims, asserting that the island's people should determine their own future.