Taiwan Conducts Fighter Jet Takeoff and Landing Drills on Highways in Preparation for War

Training for Runway Destruction Scenario Amid China Missile Attacks
Military Tensions Between Both Sides Reach Peak...Training Intensity Increases

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Taiwanese military reportedly conducted fighter jet takeoff and landing drills on a highway, assuming a scenario where airport runways are destroyed due to a Chinese military invasion. This exercise, personally observed by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, is said to be the largest scale among the annual joint military drills. As military tensions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait rise, Taiwan's military training intensity is gradually increasing.

According to local media such as Taiwan Liberty Times on the 15th, at 6:30 a.m. local time, the Taiwanese military conducted emergency fighter jet takeoff and landing drills on an emergency runway section of a highway in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan. President Tsai Ing-wen also observed the training, attracting significant attention both inside and outside Taiwan. Various military aircraft, including Taiwan's main fighter jet, the F-16V, participated in the exercise.

After observing the drills, President Tsai emphasized on her Facebook account, "Our military's rapid and practical response capability comes from solid daily training and demonstrates the confidence of the Republic of China Air Force in defending our airspace."

According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, there are five emergency highway runway sections across Taiwan where fighter jets can perform emergency takeoffs and landings. The Ministry expects that in the event of war with the Chinese military, major airbases and airports concentrated mainly on the west coast facing China would be destroyed by Chinese missile attacks. Therefore, emergency runways capable of takeoff and landing have been prepared along highway sections and mountainous areas.

This training is part of the annual Han Kuang 37 joint army, navy, and air force exercises that began on the 13th. These drills started in 1984 to prepare for a Chinese military invasion and have been established as annual exercises since 2011. The current exercises involve maneuvers and live-fire training, originally planned for July this year but postponed to September due to the spread of COVID-19.

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