TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng announced on Thursday (March. 7) that the extension of this year's computer-based annual Han Kuang 40 military drills was due to "an evolving enemy situation and an increased focus on detailed drills."
This year's annual Han Kuang 40 military computer war games will be extended from five days and four nights to eight days and seven nights.
In response to this decision, Chiu said: "It's due to the enemy situation. Everyone can clearly see that. It won't be completely based on 'military confrontation.'"
Answering a query from Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin at the national defense committee meeting about whether a U.S. military observation group would participate, Chiu confirmed by saying, "We will definitely invite them."
Chiu further addressed the issue of delayed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, with at least 19 incomplete transactions surpassing NT＄695 billion. He affirmed that the process is going as planned.
TVBS News reporter also noticed that Hsu Yen-pu, the National Defense General deputy minister, interacted with international arms dealers during the Singapore Airshow in February.
Regarding Hsu's visits, Chiu commented, "It is inevitable that who we will meet (at the venue), but we did not discuss acquiring...which kind of military equipment or how, but we may tell them 'to speed up,' which was incidental."