TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Chief of the General Staff Admiral Mei Chia-shu (梅家樹) visited Penghu County to inspect preparations for the annual Han Kuang military exercises, reports said Saturday (June 22).

The July 22-26 live-fire part of Han Kuang 40 is expected to include drills defending smaller islands against China following the incursions of its ships into Taiwan’s restricted waters. Within days of the May 20 inauguration of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), Beijing launched a two-day series of drills surrounding Taiwan under the name “Joint Sword-2024A.”

During his visit to Penghu on Friday (June 21), Mei said troops needed to be able to respond to realistic battlefield situations, the Liberty Times reported. He added the types of weapons used during Han Kuang 40 on the islands in the Taiwan Strait and the area covered by the drills would be more diverse than on previous occasions.

Mei is scheduled to discuss this year’s round of military exercises with the Legislative Yuan Foreign and National Defense Committee on Wednesday (June 26). It will be the first time in 26 years that a chief of the general staff speaks at the legislature, per the Liberty Times.