10-day, longest ever Han Kuang live-fire exercises begin
The annual live-fire Han Kuang exercises kicked off on Wednesday. Scheduled to last ten days, it’s the longest Han Kuang drills ever. On Day One, the exercises focused on responding to China’s grey-zone harassments. This year, 20,000 reservists are taking part, making for the largest number ever in a Han Kuang drill. In the coming days, anti-landing and joint response exercises will be carried out by all three branches of the military.
At daybreak on the 9th, a Ching Chiang-class patrol ship, the ROCS Jin Chiang returns to harbor after completing its mission.
Meanwhile, at Yilan’s Su’ao Harbor, a Chih Yang-class frigate, the ROCN Fen Yang has received an order and makes an emergency exit out of the port.
National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology’s Glorius Star test platform tows an unmanned surface vessel out of the port for testing. The first day of the 10-day Han Kuang exercises focuses on China’s attack via grey-zone tactics. The Army, Navy and Air Force are all responding to the mock emergency, via preservation of naval and air force combat power, emergency departure of warships, and the Penghu Navy and Air Force staying alert on the enemy’s movements on the outer islands. The Army’s 206th and 302nd Brigades conducted combat readiness training and specialty artillery drills, respectively.
Reservists are listening intently as an officer explains how to operate a squad automatic weapon and a platoon machine gun. This round of Han Kuang exercises are being held jointly with the 35th Tung Hsin exercises for 20,000 reservists, the largest number ever.
Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
What makes this year’s Han Kuang exercises different from years past is that it simulates the transitional period between peace time and war time. From July 9 to July 11, we’re training for medium- to high-power grey-zone harassments. On July 12 we’ll proceed to the second item, which are the CCP’s confrontational drills, which may turn into joint live-fire drills from then to July 13. After July 13 and July 14, it’s anti-landing via sea and air, among others. National defense, civil defense and psychological defense can all be integrated.
Apart from drills on responding to grey-zone harassments, in-depth multi-layered defense and military-and-civil integration and coordination, the Ministry of National Defense also published an animation for the general public, so that people in the country are more aware of what goes on in the Han Kuang drills and be more supportive of the military.
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2025-07-09
