TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In response to continued Chinese military activities around Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense will conduct three major joint exercises between late October and early November to strengthen its defense capabilities.
The Army will hold its Chang Tai No. 19 exercise from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, CNA reported. It will involve a simulated confrontation between two combined brigades: the 586th Armored Brigade from central Taiwan and the 333rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade from southern Taiwan.
The Sixth Army Corps will oversee the exercise, which will be larger in scope than in previous years. The drills will last 24 hours each day and include night operations to simulate real scenarios and test combat readiness.
The Hai Chiang naval exercise is slated for late October to early November. This exercise will simulate defensive and offensive scenarios in the event of a Chinese invasion, focusing on anti-ship operations.
The Air Force’s Tianlong Exercise will run from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 and involve air-to-air, air-to-sea, and air-to-ground combat drills. Aircraft including F-16Vs, Mirage 2000s, and IDF fighters will be deployed. The exercise will test the pilots’ combat readiness and joint operational effectiveness with other military branches.
The series of exercises come after President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) pledged to boost the nation’s resilience in his National Day address on Oct. 10. Under the Four Pillars of Peace action plan, Lai said he would bolster national defense and protect the well-being of the Taiwanese.
Taiwan is determined to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Laid said, adding that it will remain confident and resilient and be a force for peace and prosperity in the region.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said last month it is becoming harder to discern when Beijing might be transitioning from a training exercise to war, as China’s military drills around Taiwan increase.