Taiwan has begun its longest and most expansive annual military exercise to date, aiming to prepare for a possible Chinese invasion. The 10-day Han Kuang drills, which began on Wednesday, July 9, include round-the-clock combat simulations designed to test Taiwan’s ability to respond to gray-zone threats and full-scale attacks.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the exercise will involve all military branches, supported by 22,000 reservists. This year’s drills come amid ongoing harassment by the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia near offshore Taiwanese islands.
Scenarios include defending ports and coastal areas against amphibious landings.
Unbiased. Straight Facts.TM
The United States is Taiwan’s largest defense supplier and is required to treat threats to Taiwan as matters of “grave concern.”
What new weapons is Taiwan using in these drills?
Taiwan’s forces debuted U.S.-made M1A2T Abrams tanks in a live-fire exercise at a base in Hsinchu County. President Lai Ching-te observed the drills, calling them “large-scale, realistic combat” intended to strengthen national defense and regional stability. According to Taiwan’s army, the tanks demonstrated 100% accuracy against moving and stationary targets.
Taiwan has purchased 108 Abrams tanks from the U.S. in a $1.45 billion deal, replacing aging models and enhancing defenses in northern regions critical to Taiwan’s tech industry. Other upgrades include F-16V fighters, HIMARS rocket systems and unmanned stealth vehicles.
How has China responded to the drills?
Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Jiang Bing dismissed the Han Kuang drills as “nothing but a bluffing and self‑deceiving trick by the DPP authorities.” Bing warned that Taiwan could not “resist the PLA’s anti-independence sword.” China continues to exert pressure on the island, both militarily and economically.
On July 9, Taiwan reported PLA aircraft and vessels conducting operations under the guise of a joint patrol. Taiwan responded with surveillance and defensive deployments.
What role does the US play in Taiwan’s defense?
While Washington maintains unofficial ties with Taipei, the U.S. is Taiwan’s largest supplier of defensive arms. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is required to view threats to the island as matters of “grave concern.”
Though it remains unclear whether the U.S. would intervene directly in a conflict, its arms sales and regional partnerships have become central to Taiwan’s military strategy.
