Taiwan kicked off its most expansive military exercises in the island’s history on August 5, stretching across 10 days and pulling in not just soldiers but civilians, businesses, local governments, and media in an unprecedented whole-of-society approach to war preparedness.
The Han Kuang drills, held annually since 1984, have always been about readiness. This year they became about reality. Streets in Taipei were cleared during public air raid drills. Mobile internet speeds were deliberately throttled across at least 14 regions. Civilian factories were mobilized as if wartime production orders had come down the chain.
What the drills actually looked like
Urban resilience drills expanded to two full days this year, fully merging with the military exercises for the first time. Those drills covered first aid training, medical evacuations, and drone-based supply deliveries, reflecting lessons learned from recent conflicts around the world where urban warfare and civilian logistics proved decisive.
The military side was no less ambitious. Exercises simulated escort operations for merchant ships, recognizing that any Chinese blockade would target commercial shipping lanes. Fighter jet dispersal strategies were practiced, a nod to the vulnerability of concentrated air assets on an island with limited runway space.
