Taiwan Launches War Exercises By Simulation Of Attacks On Military Command

JAKARTA - Taiwan launched its biggest military exercise on Wednesday, starting with a simulation of its attack on its command and infrastructure system ahead of the Chinese invasion, senior defense officials said.

The initial stage of Han Kuang's 41st annual exercise will focus on testing how the Taiwanese military can decentralize command in the event of a crippling communication attack.

Over the next 10 days, exercises will be expanded to assess Taiwan's combat readiness for full-scale efforts to seize the island.

"We have learned from the situation in Ukraine in recent years and are realistically thinking about what Taiwan might face in its real battle," a senior defense official said, highlighting the need to protect the command and communication system.

"The commanders must think about what problems their troops may be facing and they need to convey it to their subordinates," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation.

Cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns are seen by Taiwan as an act of a high-intensity "grey zone" that is likely to precede a broader Chinese attack.

This year's Han Kuang exercise will mobilize the largest number of reserve troops, around 22.000 people, and for the first time feature the New High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) along with the Taiwan-developed Sky Sword ground-to-air missile.

About 300 reserve troops were seen entering the classroom of a junior high school in the city of Taoyuan vacated for the summer holidays, receiving mortar and rifle training.

The senior Taiwan defense official said they wanted to show China that they were facing an unexpected enemy and any invasion scenario would be increasingly complex, as well as showing the international community that Taiwan was determined to defend itself.

Along with its development, the drills will feature 24-hour operations by the army, navy, and air to defend Taiwan's coast.

Civil defense elements will also be tested, including the construction of emergency supply stations as well as the recently expanded use of Taiwanese airstrike protection sites.

Para attache dan analist militer regional mengatakan latihan militer tersebut diawasi dengan ketat, baik untuk melihat respons China maupun untuk mempertimasi peningkatan ketahanan Taiwan.

Taiwanese defense officials said they believed the Chinese military would closely monitor the drills.

As of 6 am, Taiwan had detected 31 Chinese aircraft and seven naval vessels, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

About 24 planes crossed the midline, an unofficial barrier between the two sides.

Separately, China's Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday that Taiwan's Han Kuang military exercise was "no more than a blink".

"Whatever weapons are used, Taiwan cannot withstand the sharp sword of the People's Liberation Army against independence," said ministry spokesman Jiang Bin, as quoted by state television station CCTV.

- https://voi.id/berita/493729/pm-netanyahu-sebut-pertemuan-dengan-presiden-trump-fokus-pada-upaya-pembebasan-sandera-di-gaza

- https://voi.id/berita/493712/kepala-intel-prancis-sebut-belum-ada-kepastian-tentang-keberadaan-stok-uranium-iran

- https://voi.id/berita/493704/menlu-sugiono-asean-harus-tetap-menjadi-jangkar-kestabilan-dan-magnet-investasi-berkelanjutan

- https://voi.id/berita/493695/menlu-ri-asean-harus-mampu-menghadapi-peningkatan-rivalitas-geopolitik-dan-proteksionisme

- https://voi.id/berita/493618/korban-tewas-banjir-bandang-texas-mencapai-109-orang-banyak-di-antaranya-anak-anak

[/see_also]

China is known to view democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own, increasing military pressure around the island over the past five years, including a series of war games and daily patrols.

Beijing has never abandoned the use of force to bring the island under its control, and any attack on Taiwan could trigger a wider regional war.

On the other hand, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te and his government strongly oppose Chinese sovereignty claims, saying the island's people themselves determine their future.