TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Taiwan kicked off its largest military drills on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, starting with simulated attacks on its command system and infrastructure to counter the threat of a Chinese invasion, said a senior defense official.
The initial phase of the annual Han Kuang military exercise will focus on testing how Taiwan's military can decentralize command in the event of communication attacks. Over the next 10 days, the drills will expand to evaluate Taiwan's combat readiness against a full-scale attempt to seize the island.
"We are learning from the situation in Ukraine in recent years and realistically thinking about what Taiwan might face ... in real combat," said a senior defense official, highlighting the need to protect command and communication systems, as reported by CNA.
"Commanders have to think what issues their troops might face and they need to pass them down to their subordinates," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation.
Cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns are viewed by Taiwan as high-intensity "gray zone" actions that are likely to precede a broader Chinese attack.
This year's Han Kuang annual exercise will mobilize the largest number of reserves, around 22,000, and for the first time feature the new High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, made by Lockheed Martin, along with Taiwan-developed Sky Sword surface-to-air missiles.
China regards Taiwan, which is democratically governed, as part of its territory. Beijing has intensified military pressure around the island over the past five years, including a series of military exercises.
Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, and any attack on Taiwan could trigger a broader regional war.
As it progresses, the exercise will feature 24-hour operations and ground, naval, and air force operations to defend Taiwan's shores.
Civil defense elements will also be tested, including the establishment of emergency supply stations and the use of Taiwan's recently expanded air raid shelters.
China's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Taiwan's Han Kuang military exercise was nothing more than a bluff.
"No matter what weapons are used, Taiwan can't resist the People's Liberation Army's sharp sword against independence," said ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin, as quoted by the government television station CCTV.
The senior defense officials in Taiwan said they want to show China that they face an unpredictable enemy and that any invasion scenario will become more complex, while also showing the international community that Taiwan is determined to defend itself.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and his government firmly reject China's sovereignty claims by stating that the people of the island alone determine their future.
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