TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tabletop exercises last week simulated the rapid seizure of Penghu by PLA forces and a surprise landing on Taiwan’s east coast.
From June 9 to 10, the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation hosted Taiwan Defense TTX. In the final stage of the simulation, set in 2030, the PLA conducted a joint assault across the First Theatre of Operation, responsible for Penghu County, per Storm Media.
PLA amphibious landing vehicles were detected maneuvering southeast of Magong, and Penghu came under sustained long-range fire and drone strikes. Airborne PLA forces also parachuted onto Xiyu Township and Baisha Township.
Communications in the region were cut off, and satellite intelligence from the US team confirmed that Penghu had been captured. Chinese vessels were seen unloading supplies at Magong Harbor.
The capture was quickly followed by viral videos uploaded by Penghu residents showing PLA activity. Large numbers of PLA helicopters, drones, transport aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and air defense systems appeared near Penghu Airport.
China’s Ministry of National Defense later issued a statement claiming, “The PLA has recovered Penghu.” It urged Taiwanese authorities to “recognize the situation and cease futile resistance to avoid further casualties.”
The Taiwan team received US intelligence that multiple PLA amphibious fleets had set sail from Ningbo and Zhanjiang. They were detected heading toward Taiwan’s northern and southern coastal waters.
In an unexpected move, the China team decided to land forces on the east coast first. PLA brigade-level troops stormed beaches between the Beinan and Zhiben rivers, seized bridges along Provincial Highway 11 and parachuted into Taitung Airport, while additional units landed in Hualien and Yilan counties.
The China team explained that their objective was “to compel unification by force” through a full-scale invasion, and their scenario design departed from traditional thinking, reflecting China’s enhanced military and technological capabilities.
The exercise aimed to explore challenges in Taiwan-Penghu defense operations and identify potential solutions. The strategy consisted of four phases: first, blinding and deafening Taiwan by targeting reconnaissance and communications systems; second, neutralizing the island’s air defenses; third, disabling airports and blockading ports to ground aircraft and trap naval vessels; and fourth, isolating the eastern and western battlefields by destroying key roads and bridges to cut off troop movements.
The China team said the strategic surprise value of an eastern landing, coupled with weaker defenses and lower urban density there, made it a priority target. The Taiwan team conceded that Penghu’s fall was “faster than expected.”
Former Army Commander Hu Cheng-fu (胡鎮埔) said outlying islands are expected to fight independently, with smaller islands protecting larger ones and larger islands supporting smaller ones. He emphasized that Penghu is unique, as “attacking Penghu is equivalent to attacking the main island because Penghu is the gateway to Taiwan.”
He explained that once Penghu falls, China’s logistics could flow continuously, and therefore “all firepower and forces must be used to defend Penghu.”
