TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Against a backdrop of intensifying regional tensions and deep political divisions at home, Taiwan is preparing to launch its most ambitious military exercise in the island's history. The Han Kuang 41 exercise (漢光41號演習), Taiwan's annual war games simulating a Chinese invasion, will run for an unprecedented 10 days beginning next Thursday (July 9), incorporating civilian response drills in a comprehensive test of the island's defense readiness. Officials have allocated NT$1.7 billion (approximately US$58.9 million) for the exercises, underscoring Taiwan's deepening investment in military preparedness as cross-strait relations continue to deteriorate.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部), Taiwan's agency responsible for domestic affairs and civil defense, will oversee the urban resilience component from Tuesday (July 15) through Friday (July 18), with implementation schedules tailored to different regions across the island. This integration of civilian and military elements represents a significant evolution in Taiwan's defense doctrine, acknowledging that modern warfare would require coordinated responses from both sectors. The Ministry of National Defence (MND, 國防部) has designed the exercises to follow a realistic escalation pattern, beginning with China's increasingly common "gray-zone" tactics — military activities that fall short of actual combat — before progressing through more intensive conflict scenarios.
"From July 9 to 11, we will address gray-zone disturbances, July 12 will focus on emergency operations, and July 13 to 18 will cover comprehensive warfare, including joint anti-landing and sustained combat," explained Tung Chi-hsing (董冀星), a spokesperson for Taiwan's defense ministry. Military analysts point out that the exercise's expanded scope coincides with a marked increase in Chinese naval activities in waters surrounding Taiwan, contributing to broader security concerns throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The decision to extend Han Kuang to its longest-ever duration signals Taiwan's growing apprehension about regional stability and the potential for conflict with its powerful neighbor.
The upcoming drills will feature an unprecedented level of civilian participation, with Taiwan's major urban centers — Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan — conducting coordinated civil defense, air raid, and critical infrastructure protection exercises. Local governments across Taiwan's 22 administrative divisions will evaluate public accessibility to designated air raid shelters, with special attention to transportation hubs and commercial areas where large numbers of people congregate. Taiwanese citizens will receive real-time emergency alerts on their mobile devices during the simulation. Notably, PX Marts, a popular Taiwanese supermarket chain, will transform its locations nationwide into emergency supply distribution centers and evacuation assistance points during the exercises.
"We're extending this partnership to include convenience stores as well," a MOI official confirmed, underscoring the government's strategy to incorporate Taiwan's ubiquitous convenience store networks into national emergency response plans. These expanded civil-military exercises arrive at a politically delicate moment for President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), who has taken office amid rising cross-strait tensions and has positioned himself as both pragmatic and supportive of Taiwan's distinct identity, describing himself as "a pragmatic advocate of Taiwan independence" despite Beijing's warnings against such rhetoric.
Lai's administration faces significant headwinds, with recent polling data from June showing a 46% disapproval rating as the president navigates a deeply divided domestic political environment. This internal pressure compounds the external challenges posed by China's increasingly assertive military posture, with People's Liberation Army aircraft and naval vessels approaching Taiwan's territorial boundaries at unprecedented frequencies. Military and political analysts view this year's expanded Han Kuang exercise as more than a routine drill — it represents both an assessment of Taiwan's defensive capabilities and a test of the Lai administration's capacity to manage complex security challenges while governing a politically polarized society. ◼
(At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$28.847)