TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Defending the outlying island of Kinmen will play an important role in next month’s Han Kuang 40 military exercises, reports said Saturday (June 8).
The island, within view of the Chinese city of Xiamen, saw Chinese coast guard ships entering restricted waters earlier this year. Within days of the May 20 inauguration of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), China launched a massive two-day series of drills surrounding Taiwan under the name “Joint Sword-2024A.”
During a two-day inspection tour, Chief of the General Staff Admiral Mei Chia-shu (梅家樹) reportedly told the Kinmen Defense Command it was expected to play a key part in next month’s maneuvers, per the Liberty Times. The live-fire part of the 40th edition of the annual Han Kuang drills has been scheduled for July 22-26.
Mei also visited remote small islands that are part of Kinmen County to note their strategic situation and the living conditions of military garrisons. The geographic circumstances of the islands necessitated that the soldiers cooperated closely, he said.
The chief of staff praised officers who had volunteered to serve in the remote locations and defend the safety of Taiwan. Mei’s visit was reportedly timed on the eve of the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday in order to provide moral support to those soldiers unable to spend time with their families.
