TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army’s Chang Tai 19 exercise kicked off Saturday (Oct. 26) in central and southern Taiwan.

The exercise simulates a mock battle between the Army's Mechanized Infantry 333rd Brigade and Armored 586th Brigade and also involves units from the Navy, Air Force, and Army Aviation and Special Forces Command to strengthen joint operations capabilities, Liberty Times reported. The drill mainly aims to hone command and logistics strategies and test whether units can adapt to unscripted war scenarios.

The exercise consists of two days of preparation and five days of mock combat and will conclude on Nov. 1. The simulated engagement will take place in central Taiwan, while other drill segments will be conducted in the south. 

Lieutenant General Li Tien-lung (李天龍), commander of the Army's Sixth Army Corps, said the drills focus on "realistic combat" training and integrate a variety of tactical maneuvers to enhance mobility and real-time response capabilities.

The drill comes after the Army’s Penghu Defense Command conducted nighttime live-fire exercises for the first time last Thursday. M60A3 tanks, CM-21 armored vehicles, and artillery fired at targets off Penghu’s southern coast. The drill simulated a surprise nighttime attack and attempted landing on Penghu by enemy forces.

Taiwan has increased its frequency of military exercises amid continued Chinese coercion. Beijing launched the “Joint Sword-2024B” exercise on Oct. 14, which tested the People’s Liberation Army’s combat readiness and joint operations capabilities. 

Taiwan’s defense ministry condemned the move, saying it was “exacerbating cross-strait tensions.”