TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday urged servicemembers participating in the Han Kuang 42 exercise to remain mission-ready during a visit to the Joint Operations Command Center.

Lai told troops to treat the exercise as if it were a real combat scenario. “Only by identifying shortcomings and uncovering problems can we continue to strengthen our combat readiness,” he said in a Facebook post.

The computer phase of the Han Kuang 42 exercise runs from April 11 to 24, while the live-fire segment will begin in August.

This year’s Han Kuang exercise centers on whole-of-society defense resilience, Lai said. The military aims to enhance coordination with civil society and implement new approaches to training and using technologies to build asymmetric capabilities and strengthen deterrence, he added.

Maintaining peace is a shared goal among Taiwanese, Lai said, “but it must be secured through our own strength.”

The president also called on the Legislative Yuan to support the government’s comprehensive defense plan and pass the defense budget as soon as possible. Lai said he believed his proposed special defense budget would help “build a shield for Taiwan” and protect the lives of Taiwanese.