Taiwan has launched its largest ever military drills, with a focus on decentralising command and preparing for potential cyber attacks ahead of a Chinese invasion. The annual Han Kuang exercises began with simulated attacks on command systems and infrastructure.
The drills aim to test how Taiwan’s military can respond in the event of a crippling communications attack, following recent lessons from Ukraine. Cyber attacks and misinformation campaigns are seen as high-intensity “grey zone” actions that may precede a broader Chinese assault.
Taiwan has mobilised 22,000 reservists for the first time, featuring new High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Taiwan-developed Sky Sword surface-to-air missiles. The exercises will also assess combat readiness against a full-scale attempt to seize the island.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has intensified military pressure around the island over the past five years. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, and any attack on Taiwan could ignite a broader regional war.
Taiwanese defence officials believe that China’s military will be closely monitoring the drills, with 31 Chinese aircraft sorties detected by Taiwanese authorities. China has also added eight Taiwan firms to its export control list, banning exports of dual-use products.
The exercises are seen as a show of strength for Taiwan and its commitment to defending itself against potential aggression from China. Regional military attaches and analysts say the drills are being closely watched, both for China’s response and to gauge improvements in Taiwanese resilience.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/taiwan-launches-annual-war-games-with-simulated-attacks-against-military-command-2025-07-09