How Taiwan Is Planning To Stop An Invasion By China

nationalinterest.org

Taiwan’s military is scheduled to simulate defending the island from an invasion by mainland China.

The simulation will be part of Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang drills, which begin next week. Citing a statement by the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense, the Japan Times said that “Taiwan will simulate repelling an invading force, emergency repairs of a major air base and using civilian-operated drones as part of military exercises starting next week.” Although the exercise begins then, the Defense Ministry said that the main part of the drill will take place from June 4 to June 8. That part will consist of live-fire exercises practicing “enemy elimination on beaches.” The drills will also practice quickly repairing military air strips that would presumably be targeted by Chinese missile and aircraft early in a conflict.

The statement did not explicitly mention China, according the Japan Times. However, a Taiwanese spokesperson was more direct. “Simply put, the main goal of the drills is to make any Chinese communist military mission to invade Taiwan fail,” said Chen Chung-ch, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry. Chen added that the exercise will take account of the current capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), mainland China’s military. “It simulates this year’s situation and we are taking into consideration China’s air and naval movements in the region,” he said.