TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan launched its longest and largest-ever military exercise, Han Kuang 41 (漢光41號演習), on Wednesday (July 9). The 10-day, nine-night drill tests Taiwan's defense capabilities against potential threats, simulating a comprehensive scenario of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) landing in Taiwan in 2027.
The exercise, which began after President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) labeled China a hostile external force, focuses on countering "gray zone" tactics. It unfolds in three stages: responding to gray zone invasions, conducting joint fire strikes, and executing deep defense strategies.
This year's Han Kuang exercises include a live-fire drill and the participation of 20,000 military reservists, the largest number in the drill's history. Taiwan's government has incorporated previous air and civil defense drills into the "Urban Resilience Exercise" (城鎮韌性演習) to strengthen cooperation between military, governmental, and civilian sectors.
Twenty-two cities and counties across the island are following the Ministry of National Defence's (MND, 國防部) plan to join the exercise. Local businesses are also playing a role, with supermarket chain PX Mart assisting with evacuation procedures during the drill. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部) announced plans to expand civilian cooperation. "We will contact convenience stores to collaborate in future emergency response plans," a ministry spokesperson said.
Taiwan is strengthening its asymmetric warfare capabilities by acquiring HIMARS rocket systems and investing in nearly 1,000 drones from the U.S. The nation has also encouraged domestic development of uncrewed vehicles through collaboration with the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST, 國立中山科學研究院) and special projects with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部).