Taiwan’s longest-ever 10-day military exercises, known as Han Kuang, began on the island and will continue until July 18. Traditionally, these annual military games lasted no more than five days, Asian media reported on Wednesday.
The first three days will be devoted to practising rapid response measures in the event of a potential invasion. The island’s navy ships will be sent to specific points off the coast. Mobile radar stations and mobile anti-ship missile systems will be deployed at strategic points, ports, harbours and other key infrastructure facilities. At the same time, military engineers will begin practising the construction of barriers.
On July 13-18, the manoeuvres will include full-scale combat operations, including anti-landing operations on the coast. The exercises will also include live-fire drills using various types of weapons.
Meanwhile, the Chinese military said the exercises were “a bluff and self-deception by the Democratic Progressive Party leadership, which is trying to ‘tie the population to the chariot of Taiwan independence.
Attempts to achieve Taiwan’s independence by force are futile and lead to a dead end, said Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin.
The annual Han Kuang exercises have been Taiwan’s main military games since 1984. This year, 22,000 reservists called up for the duration of the exercises will also take part.
