Taiwan launched its most extensive Han Guang military exercises on Wednesday, a 10-day live-fire operation designed to counter escalating Chinese threats, including “gray zone tactics” that skirt open warfare. The drills, the longest in Taiwan’s history, follow the delivery of advanced weaponry, including U.S.-supplied Abrams M1A2T tanks, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and unmanned waterborne drones, signaling a robust response to China’s increasing aggression.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory to be annexed by force if necessary, has intensified harassment through its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and maritime militia, particularly around Taiwan’s offshore islands like Kinmen and Matsu. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry reported that the exercises began with operations to counter Chinese Coast Guard and militia ships, focusing on fortifying ports and potential landing sites 160 kilometers (100 miles) off China’s coast, amid fears of an invasion disguised as minor skirmishes.
The drills, involving all military branches and 22,000 reservists, will simulate anti-landing scenarios under realistic round-the-clock conditions, addressing past criticisms of overly scripted exercises. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry urged the public to remain patient with disruptions to flights and traffic and to disregard misinformation about the drills.
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China’s response was predictably sharp. On Tuesday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Jiang Bing called the Han Guang exercises a “bluffing and self-deceiving trick” by Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), accusing it of pushing for independence and harming Taiwan’s interests. “No matter what weapons they use, they cannot resist the PLA’s anti-independence sword,” Jiang declared, reiterating Beijing’s narrative of inevitable reunification.
On the eve of the drills, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry reported PLA planes and ships conducting “harassment operations” under the guise of a “joint combat readiness patrol.” Taiwan responded with joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance measures, deploying aircraft, vessels, and shore-based missile systems.
Adding to the tension, China’s Commerce Ministry imposed export controls on eight Taiwanese defense-related companies, including Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, Jingwei Aerospace Technology Co., and CSBC Corporation, banning “dual-use” item exports effective immediately. This follows China’s pattern of sanctioning entities supporting Taiwan’s defense, including U.S. firms. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry spokesperson, Chiao Fu-chun, dismissed the sanctions, noting that Taiwan’s defense industry has eliminated Chinese-made parts from its supply chains and prioritizes domestic manufacturing.
The exercises come amid heightened regional tensions, with China’s PLA conducting frequent drills, including large-scale operations in April 2025 simulating blockades and attacks, prompted by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s defiance of Beijing’s claims. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported 356 PLA aircraft sorties into its Air Defense Identification Zone in June alone, more than double the monthly average before Lai’s May 2024 inauguration.
Taiwan’s bolstered Han Guang drills, backed by U.S. support and new asymmetric weaponry, underscore its determination to defend its de-facto independence. As Beijing ramps up military and economic pressure, the exercises signal Taiwan’s readiness to counter both overt and covert threats, reinforcing its resolve to protect its sovereignty.
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