HSINCHU (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) conducted a live combat drill at Hukou Camp (湖口營區) in Hsinchu County (新竹縣) on Tuesday (Jan. 7) to showcase the military's readiness during the upcoming Lunar New Year.
The drill, part of the "2025 Enhanced Combat Readiness Media Invitation Event," demonstrated the army's swift activation of defense mechanisms against potential threats to key targets in the county. The military simulated an enemy drone infiltration, countering with UAV reconnaissance and a coordinated response involving AH-64E Apache helicopters and CM11 Brave Tiger tanks.
Chuang Yuan-cheng (莊沅澂), commander of the 542nd Armor Brigade's combined arms battalion, emphasized the exercise's adherence to realistic training guidelines, integrating intelligence, command, and communication to boost combat effectiveness. He assured the public that the brigade would remain vigilant during the holiday.
Also, Private Fu Wan-ying (傅琬瑩) of the same brigade expressed personal growth and independence through the training, stating it strengthened her ability to protect her family. As the Lunar New Year begins on Jan. 25, this exercise aimed to test the troops' rapid response and coordination in modern warfare and showcased recent improvements in combat readiness, the MND said.