DEFENSE / Taiwan's annual war games extended to 2 weeks again

Taipei, April 2 (CNA) The computerized portion of Taiwan's largest annual military drills will be held for 14 days for the second consecutive year, testing the country's all-out defense against China's increasing "gray zone" activities and its potential to carry out a full-scale invasion of the island.

The Han Kuang exercises are held annually in two stages. This year's 42nd edition will kick off with tabletop war games, conducted from April 11-24, Maj. Gen. Tung Chi-hsing (董冀星), director of the Joint Operations Planning Division under the Ministry of National Defense (MND), said at a briefing in Taipei on Thursday.

Last year was the first time the tabletop war games lasted two weeks. In 2024, they were held for eight days, while in previous years, the computerized exercises usually lasted five days.

Taiwan's military said last year that the extension was intended to give the armed forces more time to test their response measures across different scenarios, including situations in which Chinese forces suddenly turn their drills into a full-scale invasion.

During Thursday's press event, Tung said the computerized war games will again be conducted using the United States-built Joint Theater Level Simulation (JTLS) platform and will be held around the clock to test the ability of the nation as a whole to coordinate and respond to a Chinese invasion.

The wargames will simulate a scenario in which the People's Liberation Army (PLA) unexpectedly pivots military exercises or "gray zone" activities-provocative or aggressive actions that fall just short of open conflict-near Taiwan into a real attack, the one-star general said.

As in 2025, this segment of the exercises will be unscripted to test troop emergency response capabilities, with a focus on responses under decentralized command and 24/7 operational conditions, Tung added.

The scenario will also test how the armed forces defend the country if the PLA attempts to seize ports and airports before advancing inland.

In addition to defensive efforts by active-duty troops, the military will also mobilize reserve forces and work with the Central Joint Response Center to practice integrated military-civilian cooperation in repelling intruders, Tung added.

As for the live-fire segment of the 42nd Han Kuang exercises, Tung did not announce during Thursday's press event when it will be held this year or how long it will last.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) told reporters earlier this year that the live-force exercises, usually staged in the summer, will again run for 10 days and nine nights, as was the case last year.

The annual Han Kuang exercises, which have served as Taiwan's primary war games since 1984, aim to test the country's combat readiness in the face of a possible Chinese invasion.