TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan launched the Han Kuang (漢光) 41 military exercise on Wednesday (July 9), marking the longest iteration in its history, lasting 10 days and nine nights. This year's exercise combines with a mobilization drill, mobilizing over 20,000 personnel, setting a record for participation numbers.
The Navy's Ching Chiang-class patrol ship (錦江級巡邏艦) returned to Keelung Port (基隆港) in the morning for combat readiness replenishment, while the Chih Yang-class frigate ROCN Fen Yang (濟陽級艦汾陽號) docked at Suao Port (蘇澳港) for similar duties.
The military opened its doors to the media, showcasing reservists undergoing training, including rifle proficiency and indoor close-quarters battle (CQB) drills in Taoyuan, simulating casualty scenarios.
Chen Kuo-ming (陳國銘), Defense International Magazine's (全球防衛雜誌) interview director, noted the enhancements in reservist training, particularly the inclusion of group tactical discussions, which are relatively rare. The Han Kuang exercise unfolds in three phases: the "routine crisis management phase" from Wednesday to Friday, focusing on gray zone threats; the "preparation deployment phase" on Saturday, emphasizing force preservation; and the "full-scale combat phase" from Sunday to next Friday, conducted with a "scenario-based, spoiler-free" approach to simulate the unpredictability of real warfare.