NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's military proceeded with the anti-landing Han Kuang exercises on the coast at New Taipei City's Bali District on Thursday (July 27), defying strong winds from Typhoon Doksuri.
Though drills previously scheduled in the southern and eastern parts of Taiwan were canceled, the military assessed that the conditions were safe enough in the north to go forward as initially planned.
Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Shih Shun-we remarked, "We closely monitored the weather and made adjustments to the drills." Shih added: "We overcame many challenges and seized every opportunity to conduct the exercises, weather permitting."
Even so, drills involving the Yushan-class landing platform dock, F-16, and IDF fighter jets were canceled as sea and air conditions remained choppy and unstable.
Despite the inconveniences, AAV7 amphibious assault vehicles and Apache helicopters were deployed, as soldiers in red helmets simulated enemy forces attempting an invasion. The troops portraying invading forces were later successfully incapacitated, concluding another drill of the annual exercises.