TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's largest annual military drill, Han Kuang 41 (漢光41號), entered its ninth day Thursday (July 17) with a high-stakes exercise at the strategically vital Beigan Power Plant (北竿發電廠) on one of Taiwan's outlying islands. The Matsu Defense Command (馬祖防衛指揮部), which oversees military operations on the Taiwan-controlled islands located just kilometers from China's coastline, orchestrated the comprehensive drill in coordination with local police, firefighting units, and medical response teams to strengthen their joint emergency response capabilities.
The meticulously planned scenario simulated an enemy infiltration team attempting to sabotage the island's critical power infrastructure by targeting the facility's vulnerable oil tanks. Military personnel from the Beigao Garrison Group (北高守備大隊), the primary defense unit stationed on the island, swiftly implemented their established security protocols to neutralize the simulated threat. The exercise incorporated realistic casualty scenarios, with several participants designated as "wounded." This triggered the deployment of combat medics who demonstrated battlefield first aid techniques before coordinating medical evacuations while firefighting teams successfully contained the simulated oil tank fire.
Military officials overseeing the exercise underscored the strategic significance of protecting power infrastructure on Beigan, which receives its primary electricity supply via underwater cables from the larger nearby island of Nangan (南竿). The defense planners explained that securing local backup power generation capabilities remains essential to military readiness. They emphasized that damaged transmission cables could leave the island vulnerable during conflict scenarios, making the power plant a critical asset for maintaining operational capabilities. ◼