TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The eight-day computer assisted simulation portion of the Han Kuang 40 exercise is set to begin on Friday (April 19).
This year’s exercise incorporates current threats, the status of Taiwan’s military capabilities, and lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said at a recent press conference.
The exercise aims to simulate battlefield conditions, assess Taiwan’s military preparedness, and test the nation’s cognitive warfare, asymmetric warfare capabilities, and its application of reserve forces, the MND said. It said the exercise will also include scenarios such as gray-zone intrusions, a blockade, and rapid invasion.
The primary focus of Han Kuang 40 is to evaluate Taiwan’s mechanisms for transitioning from peacetime to wartime. It will also gauge Taiwan’s defense resilience and its understanding of the rules of engagement and international law.
On Wednesday (April 17), Office of the Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Training Director Major General Chen Wen-hsing (陳文星) said this year's exercise will only involve command posts at the brigade level or higher. Units below the brigade level will continue their normal operations.
The annual military exercise comes amid increased Chinese military activities around Taiwan. Multiple scholars and military analysts have predicted Beijing could launch an invasion by 2027, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.
However, former Chief of the General Staff Admiral Lee Hsi-ming (李喜明) previously told Taiwan News that China has insufficient amphibious lift and lacks joint operations experience. Lee said it would not be easy for the PLA to conduct a full-scale invasion because Taiwan would “certainly have a strategic warning, intelligence if they gather their troops, mobilize their fighter jets or navy ships.”