• Taiwan's Han Kuang military drills are the largest ever, involving 22,000 reservists.
• The exercises focus on responding to Chinese invasion scenarios and grey-zone tactics.
• China has intensified military pressure on Taiwan, with daily patrols and war games.
• Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and dismissed the drills as a bluff.
• The drills include urban combat scenarios and utilize advanced military technology like HIMARS.

Taiwan has launched its largest-ever military drills, the Han Kuang exercises, which began on July 9. These drills simulate responses to hypothetical Chinese attacks on Taiwan's command structure and communication systems. The exercises reflect a heightened sense of urgency among Taiwan's defense officials, especially in light of the ongoing pressures from China, which has increased military operations around the island, including daily flights and naval patrols. “We are learning from the situation in Ukraine in recent years and realistically thinking about what Taiwan might face ... in real combat,” a senior official stated, emphasizing the importance of preparing for extensive combat scenarios, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The ongoing exercises, lasting ten days, will mobilize a record 22,000 reservists and include advanced military technologies such as the New High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), marking a significant enhancement in Taiwan's military capabilities. As tensions escalate, particularly following Chinese military warnings about "inevitable reunification," Taiwan's drills focus on incorporating both army and naval capabilities to simulate a comprehensive defense against a potential invasion, according to Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

The military exercises include new strategies such as responding to grey-zone tactics—actions intended to intimidate without crossing the threshold into full conflict. Taiwan's naval defense is expected to confront incursions by Chinese maritime militia, with the drills designed to reflect the realities of a prolonged cross-strait conflict. “This is the most intensive Han Kuang ever conducted,” said Major General Tung Chi-hsing, indicating the serious nature of these tactical simulations, according to South China Morning Post.

As the drills commenced, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported identifying 31 Chinese aircraft sorties and seven naval vessels, with some aircraft crossing what is recognized as the median line between the two jurisdictions. The Chinese Defense Ministry reacted pungently, describing the Han Kuang military exercises as "nothing but a bluff" and asserting that Taiwan could not withstand a military confrontation with the People's Liberation Army. This sentiment reflects China's ongoing stance regarding Taiwan, which it views as part of its territory, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.