Taiwan Boosts Defense Readiness with Extensive Military Drills

Advanced | June 26, 2025

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Preparing for the Unforeseen

Largest-Ever Taiwan Military Drills

Taiwan is significantly stepping up its defense preparations by holding its largest annual military exercises, known as the Han Kuang drills—Taiwan military drills that serve as a cornerstone of the island’s national defense planning. These exercises are crucial for evaluating and enhancing the island’s ability to counter a potential invasion scenario. This year’s drills, scheduled for July, are set to be more extensive than ever before, reflecting Taiwan’s commitment to bolstering its defense readiness.

Reservist Mobilization

One key aspect of the expanded drills is the significant increase in the mobilization of reservists. Taiwan plans to call up as many as 22,000 reservists for the exercises, a substantial jump from previous years. The main objective here is to assess how quickly and effectively reserve units can transition to full combat capability when called into action. This is a vital part of Taiwan’s strategy to ensure a “whole-of-society” approach to defense.

Adapting to Modern Threats and Integrating Society

Addressing Grey Zone Tactics

The Han Kuang exercises in 2025 will also incorporate scenarios designed to address “grey zone” tactics. These are actions taken by an aggressor that fall short of open warfare but are intended to harass, pressure, and weaken defenses gradually. By including these scenarios, Taiwan’s military aims to improve its response to a wider range of potential threats.

Urban Resilience Exercises

Furthermore, this year’s military drills are being integrated with months-long Urban Resilience Exercises. These civilian-focused drills, which include air raid and disaster response simulations, are happening in various cities and counties. Combining military and civilian exercises helps coordinate central and local government responses and enhances overall societal resilience in the face of potential conflict or disaster.

Extended Live-Fire Drills

The live-fire portion of the Han Kuang drills in July will be extended to 10 days; notably, this is double the length of previous iterations. As a result, this longer duration allows for more unscripted, 24/7 operational scenarios to test the troops’ emergency response capabilities. In addition, it helps evaluate their ability to function under decentralized command structures. Finally, the exercises will take place across Taiwan and its offshore islands, involving personnel from all branches of the armed forces.

Commitment to National Defense

These comprehensive Taiwan military drills clearly underscore Taiwan’s determination to defend itself amidst rising regional tensions. Moreover, by extending the duration, increasing reservist participation, and integrating civilian resilience efforts, Taiwan’s military is proactively working to ensure it is better prepared for the complex challenges of modern warfare and potential aggression.

Vocabulary

Readiness (noun): The state of being fully prepared for something.
- Example: “Military readiness is crucial for national security.”
Drills (noun): Exercises or training in military operations.
- Example: “The soldiers participated in live-fire drills.”
Boost (verb): To improve or increase something.
- Example: “The government hopes to boost the economy.”
Counter (verb): To defend against or oppose something.
- Example: “They are developing strategies to counter cyber attacks.”
Invasion (noun): An act of entering a country or region by force to take control.
- Example: “The country prepared for a potential invasion.”
Mobilization (noun): The act of assembling troops and resources for war or other action.
- Example: “The mobilization of reservists increased the army’s size.”
Reservist (noun): A member of a military reserve force.
- Example: “The military called up many reservists for the annual exercise.”
Grey zone tactics (noun phrase): Actions that are aggressive or coercive but fall below the threshold of open warfare.
- Example: ” Experts consider Cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns grey zone tactics.”
Resilience (noun): The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
- Example: “Community resilience is important in disaster preparedness.”
Iteration (noun): A new version of a process; a repetition of an action.
- Example: “This year’s drill is a longer iteration than last year’s.”

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What are the main goals of Taiwan’s Han Kuang military exercises this year?
How has the participation of reservists changed in the 2025 drills compared to previous years?
Why is Taiwan incorporating “grey zone” tactics into its military simulations?
How do the Urban Resilience Exercises complement the military drills?
What does the extension of the live-fire drills signify about Taiwan’s preparation strategy?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Why do countries conduct large-scale military drills?
What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of calling up a large number of military reservists?
How can a society enhance its overall resilience against external threats or disasters?
What are some examples of “grey zone” tactics used in international relations today?
How do ongoing military exercises in a region impact international relations and stability?

Related Idiom

“To keep your powder dry”

Meaning: To be prepared for a future need or emergency, especially in a conflict.
Example: The government is keeping its “powder dry” by increasing defense spending.

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This article was inspired by: Yahoo News, Date: June 23, 2025