TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The military announced a new joint defense exercise Thursday that will be held for the first time in July.

The seven-day exercise will focus on improving command-and-control mechanisms, decentralized command, and rules of engagement, CNA reported.

Defense ministry officials said that in the past, each military branch conducted exercises sequentially. For example, the Air Force would first conduct long-range strikes, followed by the Navy carrying out counterattacks and anti-submarine operations near coastal areas or against enemy vessels. The Army would then execute joint strikes and defensive operations.

However, in response to evolving forms of modern warfare and increasing threats, the three branches will combine their capabilities to carry out joint operations and defense exercises.

Officials said the new exercise draws on real-world conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Iran. Frontline personnel must be capable of making independent decisions and executing missions even when cut off from higher command, they said, adding that the exercise is designed to test whether those capabilities can be achieved.

Meanwhile, the computer-assisted phase of Han Kuang 42 is scheduled to run from April 11 to 24. This year’s war games will focus on early warning, rapid response, integrated intelligence, and surveillance and reconnaissance.

The live-fire portion of Han Kuang 42 will be held in August.