Taiwan to Conduct Large-Scale Military Drills Next Month Including Training for Chinese Air Raids

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Taiwan is set to conduct large-scale military exercises next month, assuming a Chinese armed invasion, to assess its defense and repulsion capabilities.

According to Taiwanese media on the 10th, Lin Yuanhuang, Director of the Operations Planning Office at Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, announced that the annual Han Kuang exercises will be held in July and September, explaining that there will be combat capability tests to block enemy forces at sea and on the beaches.

The July exercises will take place over five days from the 13th to the 17th, focusing mainly on military drills involving actual troops. In particular, on the afternoon of the 14th during the exercise period, the Wan'an 43 air defense drill, involving the participation of the entire population in preparation for a Chinese air raid, will also be conducted. In September, from the 14th to the 18th, exercises using computer simulations will be carried out.

Director Lin explained, "The exercises will be conducted following COVID-19 prevention guidelines, wearing masks indoors and maintaining social distancing outdoors."

The Han Kuang exercises have been held annually since 1984 as large-scale drills by Taiwan to assess its defense and repulsion capabilities assuming an armed invasion by the Chinese military.

Taiwan's large-scale exercise plan has drawn even more attention as it was announced amid heightened Chinese military pressure, including Chinese fighter jets entering Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone.

Amid escalating tensions between the United States and China surrounding Taiwan, military aircraft from both countries entered Taiwanese airspace the previous day, raising tensions. On the morning of the previous day, several Chinese Su-30 fighter jets briefly entered southwestern Taiwanese airspace, prompting the Taiwanese military to issue warning broadcasts and actively escort the Chinese jets out using patrol fighters. On the same day, one U.S. military Boeing C-40A transport aircraft also flew over Taiwan. The C-40A took off from Okinawa, Japan, entered Taiwan via northern Keelung, flew along the western coastline, and then exited toward the South China Sea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.