Defense

The key takeaways from the recently concluded Han Kuang military exercises include the military's evolving response to gray zone threats, efforts to secure critical maritime and air routes, and the possibility of stationing the Marine Corps' 99th Brigade in northern Taiwan, according to a Taiwan-based think tank.

After the failure of Saturday's mass recall of 24 opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislators, Taiwan-U.S. relations could be "significantly harmed" if the defense budget is blocked, a U.S. scholar said Tuesday.

A second batch of 42 M1A2T Abrams tanks purchased from the United States arrived at Taipei Port late Sunday and were transported in the early hours of Monday to the Army's Armored Training Command in Hsinchu's Hukou Township.

The 2025 Han Kuang military exercises -- the longest in the history of the annual drills -- have drawn positive feedback for their emphasis on realistic combat training, higher troop visibility, and the debut of new military equipment, despite a few minor incidents during the 10-day period over which the exercises were held.

Defense experts have called for more focus on counter-drone drills in future Han Kuang exercises, saying the 41st edition, which ended Friday, lacked preparation for a potential large-scale drone attack by China.

Several newly deployed micro surveillance and reconnaissance drones have made their debut in the Han Kuang military exercises, Taiwan's military media reported Thursday.

Taiwan's Army on Thursday conducted hot-pit refueling and rearming drills for military helicopters in New Taipei and Taichung to test their quicker redeployment capabilities as part of the 9th day of the ongoing Han Kuang series of exercises.

Taiwan's military conducted a nighttime drill Wednesday simulating a response to a potential Chinese attempt to seize Taipei Songshan Airport.

A key bridge in the Greater Taipei area was closed in the early hours of Tuesday for a military drill simulating efforts by Taiwan's armed forces to prevent enemy forces from moving into the capital city of Taipei.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Monday inspected a naval mine drill in Kaohsiung, as Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises entered their sixth day.