Taiwan’s military simulated repelling a Chinese air landing assault on the strategically vital Penghu Islands on Monday, as part of the annual Han Kuang exercise. The 10-day exercise, which kicked off last week, rehearses various scenarios in case China tries to seize the island by force.
Troops from the First Theatre Command opened fire in the pre-dawn hours on a beach in Penghu, using M60A3 tanks, various artillery pieces, and anti-aircraft guns. The troops formed a layered defence against a simulated enemy attempting a rapid coastal strike.
Penghu, which sits closer to the coast of the main island of Taiwan than to China, is seen by Taiwanese strategists as a potential first target for Beijing. The islands could be used as a base to attack Taiwan with missiles and drones.
Journalists on the scene were given rare access to the exercise, observing ground troops loading tank ammunition and taking up firing positions in darkness before the drill began. Reservists from Penghu took part in the exercise, part of their 14-day training programme.
LATER on Monday, the government will deliberately slow mobile internet speeds for the first time during the civil defence part of the drills. This will test how citizens would communicate if bandwidth became scarce in emergencies, such as disasters or a Chinese invasion.
Key services, from ATMs and traffic signals to emergency ambulance calls, will not be affected. Neither will landlines nor fixed internet services. The government has widely flagged the drill, sending a text message alert to mobile phones across Taiwan on Friday afternoon.
The Taiwanese government is taking these measures to prepare for a potential crisis, given the geopolitical tensions in the region. By simulating a Chinese assault and testing the resilience of its communication networks, Taiwan aims to enhance its defence capabilities and ensure the continuity of essential services.
Northern Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, will see the same exercise on Thursday. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.
The Han Kuang exercise is an annual event, aimed at rehearsing various scenarios and enhancing Taiwan’s defence capabilities. The exercise involves various branches of the military, as well as reservists and civilian agencies.
They are taking a proactive approach to enhancing national security. The exercise is a significant event, given the tensions between Taiwan and China.
They have taken steps to ensure that the drill does not disrupt essential services. This includes exempting key services from the mobile internet slowdown, and providing advance notice to the public.
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The government has taken these steps to prepare for a potential crisis. Taiwan aims to enhance its defence capabilities and ensure the continuity of essential services.