TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will launch unprecedented round-the-clock live-fire military exercises next week, merging traditional war games with civilian survival drills in a significant escalation of the island's defense preparations. The 10-day Han Kuang exercises (漢光演習), beginning July 9, will run twice as long as previous drills and represent the first implementation of President Lai Ching-te's "whole-of-society resilience" strategy.
Military officials are intensively preparing for Taiwan's largest annual military exercise, which will simulate real-world conflict scenarios from initial cyberattacks to full-scale invasions. Unlike previous exercises where battles were accelerated, this year's drills will allow combat scenarios to play out in full, providing a more realistic assessment of Taiwan's defensive capabilities. The Defense Ministry emphasized that the exercises will evaluate both military readiness and civilian infrastructure resilience.
Major General Tung Chi-hsing (董冀星), director of the Ministry of National Defense's joint operations planning division, stated the drills were designed based on lessons from last year, emphasizing decentralized operations, comprehensive logistics, and improved civilian-military coordination. The Defense Ministry announced that these unprecedented, continuous live-fire conditions signal growing concerns that potential conflict with China could require both military defense and sustained civilian endurance.
Thousands of citizens will participate in air-raid drills and evacuation procedures, with authorities warning that non-compliance may result in fines up to NT$150,000 (approximately US$5,134) under Taiwan's Civil Defense Act. The urban resilience component will include 30-minute air raid drills using various alert systems, followed by simulations of disaster response and shelter management. Defense officials have prepared contingency plans for weather disruptions, with provisions to suspend or reschedule exercises if typhoons or earthquakes affect multiple regions.
The exercises will begin with simulated "grey zone" harassment tactics that fall short of open conflict—before escalating to coastal invasions and urban warfare. According to Tung, the military has identified several grey zone tactics China might employ, including deception, attrition, and provocation. "These actions occur before a formal outbreak of war and are likely forms of interference by China against Taiwan," he explained, noting that forces will develop counterstrategies and conduct "immediate readiness" training.
When asked about these intensified preparations, military officials stated simply: "Only through readiness can we preserve peace." The exercises will include legal experts to ensure military actions remain consistent with international laws, affirming Taiwan's commitment to democratic values even under threat. The drills will follow a structured timeline: grey zone response (July 9-11), force deployment during "contingency operations" (July 12), and "full-scale combat" phases (July 13-18), running concurrently with the 35th Tung Hsin national mobilization exercise.
The timing is significant as China's military activities near Taiwan have intensified. Analysts suggest the emphasis on whole-of-society resilience reflects Taiwan's recognition that future conflicts might be won through both military capability and public unity. The detailed schedule includes joint anti-landing operations, coastal combat, in-depth defense, and protracted warfare scenarios, creating the most comprehensive military exercise in Taiwan's history.
Just yesterday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense confirmed a Chinese Type 072A landing ship — capable of carrying 10 tanks and 250 troops — within 60 nautical miles of Keelung's coast. Officials also reported 53 Chinese aircraft sorties, with 37 crossing the median line into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. These recent provocations align precisely with the type of grey zone activities the upcoming exercises are designed to counter, highlighting the real-world relevance of Taiwan's enhanced military preparations. ◼