TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) took part in a nighttime emergency response drill on Wednesday during the military’s Han Kuang 42 exercise to assess command operations, the Presidential Office said Thursday.
Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said the drill was part of Han Kuang 42 and focused on cross-agency coordination and response mechanisms, per CNA. It aimed to ensure the government can continue functioning while protecting national security and public safety.
Footage released by the Presidential Office showed Lai wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet before entering a CM-32 Clouded Leopard armored vehicle, per Reuters. The armored convoy traveled to a restricted area, where Lai and his team entered a command center, received military briefings, and chaired a meeting with military and government officials.
The “Wan Chun Plan” is a contingency protocol that allows the military to evacuate the president from the Presidential Office or official residence during emergencies using armored vehicles and helicopters, CNA reported. Security personnel would then escort the president and vice president to a secure location.
Han Kuang 42 began on Wednesday and will run for 10 days, per UDN. The annual exercise tests the military’s combat readiness against a potential Chinese invasion.
