Taiwan’s 38th Annual War Games Based on Possible Chinese Offensive Strategies, Lessons from Ukraine | Taiwan News

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The 38th Hankuang military exercise will be partly based on tactics that China may use during the invasion of Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense announced Tuesday (April 26th).

The MND said in a press release that the annual war games will be divided into two phases: a “total defense” computer simulation in May and live-fire exercises in July. The ministry said the simulated situations will also take into account lessons learned from the war between Ukraine and Russia.

The live shooting part of the war games will be designed around various enemy scenarios and offensive strategies. The soldiers will perform the drills for five days and four nights using real weapons and other equipment.

DND stressed that the objectives of this year’s exercise include improving the preservation of combat power and enhancing combat capabilities, enhancing joint maritime operations and integrating civilians to serve as forces auxiliaries to support military operations. The MND added that it was also looking to practice anti-beach landing skills.

The Hankuang exercise will strictly follow epidemic prevention regulations, the Ministry of National Defense said.

Taiwan has increased the frequency of military exercises due to the growing Chinese threat.

The third battalion of the army’s 269th mechanized infantry brigade, stationed in Taoyuan, conducted a combat readiness patrol early Sunday morning (April 24). The soldiers boarded various armored vehicles, including CM-11 tanks, CM-22 armored personnel carriers and CM-33 cloud leopards, and headed for the protection of vital targets.

The Penghu Defense Command held live-fire training on Thursday (April 21) as part of Taiwan’s Outer Islands Defense Operations. The troops fired a number of weapons, including 105 and 155 millimeter howitzers, 120 mm mortars, M240 and .50 caliber machine guns and sniper rifles.