Taiwan Kicks Off Largest Ever Han Kuang Drills Amid Escalating China Tensions

Taiwan’s most extensive annual military exercise, Han Kuang, commenced today, July 9, 2025, marking a significant ramp-up in the island’s defense preparations against a potential Chinese invasion. The drills, set to run for 10 days until July 18, are designed to test Taiwan’s combat readiness and send a clear deterrent message to Beijing.

This year’s Han Kuang exercise is billed as the largest and longest to date, featuring approximately 22,000 reservist troops, a 50% increase from last year. Key elements include the deployment of advanced hardware such as US-supplied Himars mobile rocket launchers and unscripted scenarios to test real-time responses to surprise attacks. A major focus will be on countering China’s escalating ‘grey zone’ warfare tactics, which involve repeated intrusions into Taiwanese airspace and waters.

Beyond military maneuvers, the exercises incorporate significant civil defense components, with concurrent drills testing urban resilience. These include mobile phone alerts for incoming attacks, air raid sirens, and restrictions on road traffic, alongside efforts to counter misinformation. China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, has vehemently condemned the drills. Senior Colonel Jiang Bin of China’s Ministry of National Defense dismissed them as a “bluff” and a “self-deceiving trick,” reiterating Beijing’s unwavering stance against “Taiwan Independence.”

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