
Defense ministry releases details on Wan An, Han Kuang exercises
Taiwan’s annual air raid drill will be held from July 22 to 25, alongside the Han Kuang live-fire drills. At a Tuesday press conference, the defense ministry said that the Wan An air raid drill will start in Central Taiwan, on July 22, followed by Northern Taiwan, East Taiwan, and the south. Additional air shelter drills will be held in select districts nationwide. Ahead of the Wan An and Han Kuang exercises, President Lai Ching-te made a cameo appearance on the popular military drama “Twilight Garden.”
Sporting combat gear, President Lai Ching-te made a cameo on the defense ministry’s TV show “Twilight Garden.” In the program, he had words of encouragement for a group of fighter pilots.
Lai Ching-te
President
The president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the affairs of the military are my affairs. The peace we seek is a peace with a solid foundation, a true peace that must be achieved through our own strength. This foundation I speak of is our self-defense capabilities. So when you are performing your duties and undergoing training each day, the sweat that you shed is not in vain.
Lai stressed that true peace was dependant on the ability to defend oneself.
This year’s Han Kuang live-fire drills start July 22. For the first time, they will test the defense ministry’s new guidelines for a defense counter-strike. Small cards have been printed with the new rules of engagement, to guide troops in various wartime scenarios. On Tuesday, the defense ministry disclosed card details to the public.
Tung Chih-hsing
Defense ministry joint combat planning department head
It informs officers and soldiers about the circumstances in which they can use weapons, once the war has begun. I believe that by integrating the provisions in the cards, our education campaign will achieve substantive results. This year’s Tonghsin exercises will involve 25 more units compared to last year. More than 2,000 personnel will participate in this exercise, which aims to support our 14-day refresher training program and mobilization capabilities.
Chu Sen-tsuen
All-out Defense Mobilization Office director
This year, the Wan An air raid drill will build on the outcomes of the last. We also plan to expand the scope of the air shelter exercises. In Hsinchu and Chiayi cities, we will choose just one administrative district to undergo the exercise. At each of the other 20 cities, counties, and special municipalities, two districts will undergo the exercise.
Also coming up is the 47th Wan An air raid drill, which will include more air shelter exercises across Taiwan. Officials urged the public to follow all instructions, to do their part for Taiwan’s defense.
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2024-07-09