Ben Blanchard
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s annual military exercises this year will be as close to actual combat as possible, no longer just a show for scoring points but designed to simulate real combat, given the rapidly rising “enemy threat” from China.
China considers democratically governed Taiwan its territory and has held regular drills there for four years in an effort to pressure Taipei to accept Beijing’s sovereignty claims despite Taiwan’s strong opposition.
Taiwan began the five-day Han Kuang exercise on July 22.
A senior Taiwanese defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was an urgent need to reconsider the way the exercises were conducted.
“In recent years, enemy threats have changed rapidly,” the official said. “Our national defense operational plans must also be continuously revised on a rolling basis, and the urgency of comprehensive combat training has become increasingly important.”
Mainly performance elements such as rehearsals have been canceled and night drills will be held this year and, unusually, will also include the capital Taipei, the official said.
“This is not about scoring points,” the official said. “We want soldiers to want to know if this is true.”
The official added that things can go wrong, such as vehicle breakdowns, and that’s okay. “These are all problems that may be faced in actual combat.”
The official said the exercise will be an ongoing experience. “War does not distinguish between night and day.”
China’s Defense Ministry did not answer calls seeking comment on the drills outside weekend office hours. It has previously said Taiwan believes it can use weapons to prevent “reunification” in a futile effort.
When Taiwan’s Defense Ministry announced the drills in April, they said they would practice “kill” zones at sea to break blockades and simulate a scenario in which China suddenly turns its regular drills around the island into attacks.
“Only through real-time field verification can we truly understand the capabilities and limitations of our forces,” the official said.
Last month, shortly after President Lai Ching-te took office, China held two days of military drills on the island, saying it was “punishment” for his inauguration speech, which Beijing denounced as full of separatist content.
But China has also been using gray zone warfare against Taiwan, using unconventional tactics to keep the enemy on alert without resorting to open combat, thereby depleting the enemy’s strength. This includes balloon launches over the island and almost daily air force missions in the skies near Taiwan.
China has never given up the use of force to control Taiwan. Jimmy Lai said that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future and that he has offered talks many times but was rejected.
The official declined to comment on what parts of the drills Jimmy Lai would participate in, as is customary for the president as commander in chief, or whether there would be U.S. observers.
