Taiwan’s annual military drill, known as Han Kuang, kicks off this Wednesday. This year’s exercise is the largest and longest to date, stretching over ten days—double the length of last year’s drills. It’s a show of force, aimed at preparing the people for a potential attack and also sending a strong message to China.
China views Taiwan as part of its territory and hasn’t ruled out using force to “reunify” with the island. This threat has increased worries about broader conflict involving the U.S., Taiwan’s main ally. Historically, since its start in 1984, Han Kuang has represented Taiwan’s military readiness, but recent years have led to significant changes due to escalating tensions.
What can we expect from this year’s exercises? In April, officials conducted preliminary desktop drills, setting the stage for live-fire exercises planned for July 9-18. The drills will utilize advanced equipment like rocket launchers and drones, including the recently acquired U.S. Himars mobile rocket system, which has much greater range than existing capabilities.
This year’s event will involve about 22,000 reservists—50% more than last year—and the training will test how troops react to unexpected attacks. This unscripted approach responds to previous critiques that earlier exercises felt staged rather than realistic.
Part of this year’s focus will be on countering China’s so-called “greyzone” warfare—tactics intended to undermine Taiwan through disinformation and military pressure. Civil defense has also become part of the training mix, with concurrent exercises for civilians to practice evacuating and responding to air raids.
Why the heightened focus on military readiness? Recent developments show an uptick in aggressive behavior from China, including frequent incursions into Taiwan’s airspace. The U.S. has warned that China could be gearing up for a potential invasion, especially amid President Xi Jinping’s reported 2027 timeline to enhance military capabilities against Taiwan.
Taiwan’s current President, William Lai, takes a tougher stance against China than his predecessor, which has not gone unnoticed in Beijing. The exercise’s timing and scale only heighten tensions. China’s military spokespeople have dismissed Han Kuang as mere bluster, undermining Taiwan’s independence claims.
According to a recent survey, public confidence in Taiwan’s military stands at only 47.5%. This reluctance may stem from uncertainty about U.S. willingness to intervene in the event of conflict. While the U.S. has pledged support, assurances have fluctuated, especially during the Trump administration, stirring doubts about military assistance.
Beyond Han Kuang, Taiwan is making broader changes to its military strategy, such as extending compulsory service, developing indigenous submarines and missiles, and enhancing urban defense projects. These shifts aim to better prepare the island against potential attacks, adopting a “porcupine” strategy to increase its resilience and make it more challenging for adversaries to seize control.
The ongoing developments in Taiwan’s military readiness reflect a crucial understanding: as tensions mount, the importance of preparedness and public confidence takes center stage. Watch closely; the outcome of these exercises may shape Taiwan’s future and its role on the global stage.
