TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's military staged a live-fire exercise Wednesday (March 25) along the island's strategic eastern coast, simulating the destruction of invading forces while a foreign technical adviser observed. The ROC Army Huadong Defense Command (陸軍花東防衛指揮部), Taiwan's eastern regional military headquarters designated as the Second Operational Area (第二作戰區), launched the annual "Justice Exercise" (正義操演) at 6 a.m. Military officials declined to disclose the observer's nationality or specific role.
The drill took place at the Taimali River (太麻里溪) estuary and nearby firing range in Taitung County. M60A3 tanks, 155mm and 105mm howitzers, 120mm and 81mm mortars, and .50 caliber machine guns created what officials described as a "dense fire network" targeting the sea surface. Artillery shells struck the water as troops executed qualification, verification and combat firing sequences.
Colonel Lee Chun-feng (李均峰), spokesperson for the Second Operational Area, said the exercise adhered to "realistic training" principles to verify weapons coordination and joint operational capabilities. The drill aimed to ensure troops maintain high combat readiness and familiarize soldiers with command procedures, Lee said in a statement. The military did not specify the number of participating soldiers or rounds fired during the morning operation.
The presence of foreign personnel underscores ongoing international defense cooperation, though the nature of the technical assistance provided remains unclear. Taiwan's eastern coastline, facing the Pacific Ocean, represents a critical defensive corridor. The region is considered less vulnerable to direct assault from China, formally known as the People's Republic of China, across the Taiwan Strait. ◼