Taiwan opens Han Kuang drills to test commanders

Taiwan began 10 days of Han Kuang military drills on Wednesday, testing commanders’ ability to respond flexibly when enemy movements defy expectations.

The annual exercise began early in the morning after an underground command centre in Taipei issued the drill order, triggering combat-readiness moves including fighter jet dispersals and emergency naval deployments, two senior officials briefed on the matter told Daily Maverick in a Reuters report.

Officials said Taiwan would for the first time use a “backbrief” approach modelled on U.S. military practice, in which junior officers repeat mission details to commanders after receiving orders. One senior official said the aim was to “ensure commanders and subordinates are in sync on operational intent.”

The drills will also temporarily limit internet access for the first time by deliberately slowing mobile internet speeds to test how civilians would communicate if bandwidth became scarce, the officials said. The exercise will focus on the wartime concern that China would try to paralyse command centres, ports, logistics and defence industry sites early in an attack.

China claims Taiwan as its own despite the island’s objections and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under Beijing’s control. China’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The military will simulate the wartime relocation of a major arsenal, mobilise civilian factories, run escort drills off Taiwan’s Pacific coast and mobilise more than 20,000 reservists. A defence official said field commanders would face “unexpected scenarios” before the drills end on August 14.