Taiwan Begins Major War Games
PHOTO CAPTION: Taiwanese military reservists from a mortar battalion of the Taipei City Reserve Brigade take part in a training exercise in Taipei, Taiwan, August 5, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wan
TAIPEI, Aug. 5 — Taiwan began major military exercises Wednesday designed to test whether commanders can adapt when enemy actions do not match expected scenarios, senior Taiwanese officials said. The annual Han Kuang exercise will run for 10 days and mobilize more than 20,000 reservists.
The drills began after an underground command center in Taipei issued the exercise order early Wednesday, triggering combat-readiness measures that will include dispersing fighter aircraft and conducting emergency naval deployments. Two senior officials briefed on the exercise spoke on condition of anonymity because of the operation’s sensitivity.
Testing flexible command decisions
Taiwan will use a “backbrief” system for the first time, modeled on a U.S. military practice in which junior officers repeat mission details after receiving orders. The approach is intended to improve coordination and “ensure commanders and subordinates are in sync on operational intent,” one official said.
Field commanders will be presented with unexpected scenarios requiring them to reassess conditions, adjust their plans and issue new orders quickly.
“If the situation does not match the original enemy scenario, what should he do? How should he reassess, readjust, and quickly issue orders?” a senior defense official said.
The drills will also focus on the possibility that China could attempt to disable command centers, ports, logistics networks and defense-industry facilities during the early stages of an attack. China claims Taiwan as its territory despite the island’s objections and has not renounced the use of force to bring it under Beijing’s control.
China’s Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Preparing military and civilian systems
Held annually since 1984, Han Kuang will include the deliberate slowing of mobile internet speeds for the first time to test how civilians would communicate if wartime demand reduced available bandwidth.
Taiwan’s military will also simulate moving a major weapons arsenal, mobilize civilian factories and conduct escort exercises off the island’s Pacific coast. Officials are increasingly concerned that China may be rehearsing ways to cut Taiwan’s Pacific supply lines to its allies as Beijing increases military pressure around the island.
“These are all part of a series of toughening exercises — this is no longer a laboratory-like exercise in a vacuum,” a third senior official said. “You are entering a real field environment, facing real bottom-line conditions. We hope the final phase of training reaches that state.”
The exercises are part of Taiwan’s effort to make its military training more realistic after criticism that earlier drills were overly staged. That effort has included resilience exercises examining how local authorities would continue operating during overlapping emergencies ranging from earthquakes to a Chinese invasion.
At a Taipei high school Wednesday, dozens of reservists from a mortar battalion practiced operating mortars and taking up rifle positions.
Taiwan will also introduce an embedded-reporter system to test frontline news releases and efforts to counter enemy disinformation during wartime.
“The emphasis will be on how our entire population, the Republic of China as a whole — especially our citizens — should face war,” the defense official said, using Taiwan’s official name.
The exercises are scheduled to end Aug. 14.
(Source: Reuters)
