Computerized portion of Han Kuang War Games extended to be eight days long

Computerized portion of Han Kuang War Games extended to be eight days long

2024-04-09

The annual Han Kuang War Games are back in action this month. Starting next week, computerized exercises will be carried out over eight days, and the military will be using lessons learned from the tabletop version when live-fire drills are held in July. One of the key features of training this year will be rules of engagement which define the situations in which soldiers can use force when fighting the enemy. The rules are seen as a way to maintain support from the international community in a war scenario.

First held in 1984, the annual Han Kuang War Games are the Armed Forces’ biggest war exercise, and this year they’ll include currently conscripted soldiers and reservists. The live-fire drills portion of the war games will take place in July, but first up is the tabletop portion.

Tung Chi-Hsing
MND combat and planning affairs director
This year the schedule for tabletop exercises has been extended to eight days and seven nights. They include simulations of gray-zone tactics during peace time and a potential rapid transition from peace to war in Taiwan. Amid the Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war, we’re concentrating on cognitive warfare, asymmetrical warfare capabilities, and our utilization of military reserves. The way we designed these games takes into consideration every aspect of asymmetrical warfare, and we can use this as reference for how we can employ our troops.

The primary focus of this year’s war games is anti-landing exercises. Both computerized and live-fire segments will include a coastal command that’s yet to be formally established. They’ll also feature Chinese cargo ships and Taiwan’s Sea Dragon Frogmen. One of the issues currently receiving a lot of attention is ensuring the legality of the war efforts. Commanders and troops will receive training on the matter, to develop skills related to strategic-decision making and combat response, while helping Taiwan receive international support.

Tung Chi-Hsing
MND combat and planning affairs director
This edition of the war games is separated into two sessions: computerized exercises and live-fire drills. The computerized exercises involve inspecting the procedures of commands and discussing rules of engagement. During the live-fire drill part, soldiers will take action while following the rules of engagement. These are cards with instructions for every soldier, that tell them under what kinds of threats they are authorized to use weapons and ammunition. They even include different instructions that can be followed to face specific situations.

On Monday, civilian drones from China were once again detected flying over Kinmen’s Erdan Island and Menghu Islet. Soldiers used drone jamming guns to drive them away. Unlike last year, none were shot down.

Chen Chien-yi
Army Command Headquarters
Shooting is one of our methods we may use. Of course, we need to differentiate between firing a warning shot with a flare gun, a drone jamming gun, and firing live ammunition. The situation needs to be considered, as well as the bullet’s trajectory. The way matters were handled yesterday followed standard procedure.

With China using gray-zone tactics on Taiwan’s outlying islands, the military is ready to counter harassment from across the strait.

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