TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan is going to increase the scale of its main annual military exercise by mobilizing more reserve brigades, amid media reports that the number of Chinese military aircraft entering the airspace around Taiwan has doubled since the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te in May last year.
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that must eventually reunite, even by force if necessary. Beijing views Lai, a pro-independence advocate, as a separatist and has increased military drills, economic pressure, and diplomatic isolation to counter his leadership.
“This year’s drill will mobilize an entire reserve brigade with an estimated force of 2,400 to 3,000 troops to conduct regional defense operations,” Su Tong-wei, deputy director of the Joint Operations Planning Division at Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, told journalists at a press conference, referring to the Han Kuang exercise.
The exercise is Taiwan’s largest annual military drill, testing its defense preparations for a Chinese invasion. It includes live-fire drills, joint operations and attack simulations, highlighting the island’s focus on asymmetric warfare amid rising cross-strait tensions.
Previous drills only mobilized hundreds of reserve troops.
Defense analysts said the goal of the exercise this year is to test how effectively Taiwan’s newly established county-level reserve brigades can mobilize and operate.
“With a mobilized force of 2,400 to 3,000 troops, if the brigade can independently carry out mobilization and training without external support, it would demonstrate the ability to rapidly and effectively deploy reserved forces in response to a potential threat—this is the core focus of the exercise,” Taiwanese retired major general Arthur Kuo told Radio Free Asia.
However, Kuo said mobilizing an entire reserve brigade also presents challenges for unit commanders and participating troops at all levels, including logistical support, command and coordination.
“Effective command and coordination of brigade-level units, especially when integrating with nearby active-duty forces during the exercise, require careful planning, thorough rehearsals, and precise execution,” he added.
On Tuesday, Taiwanese media reported the exercise would double the duration of its live-fire drills from 5 to 10 days, but Su declined to confirm that.
“The duration of the exercise is still being planned and will be determined based on the level of operational plan verification, with further evaluations to finalize the training schedule,” Su said.
US request?
Taiwanese media also reported that the island’s latest decision was made in response to a request from the United States.
Radio Free Asia has not been able to verify the reports.
In March 2024, then-U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral John Aquilino was questioned about Taiwan’s military readiness at a congressional hearing.
Then-representative Matt Gaetz referred to Israel’s rapid mobilization of 360,000 reservists within a day following a Hamas militant attack, suggesting that Taiwan could learn from this example. Aquilino acknowledged the comparison and emphasized efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities.
Kuo said while there was no public information indicating a specific role for U.S. forces this year, they were expected to observe.
“U.S. military observers have frequently participated in war games and live-fire drills, offering recommendations, and this time is likely no exception,” Kuo said.
“Strengthening reserve forces does indeed help demonstrate Taiwan’s combat capabilities and determination for self-defense to traditional allies such as the U.S., thereby deterring enemy aggression,” he added.
The U.S. military, for instance, had deployed more than 200 instructors to various units in Taiwan to assist with the 14-day reservist training program, which began in 2023, according to Taiwanese government reports.
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The U.S. follows the “One China” policy, recognizing Beijing while maintaining unofficial ties with Taiwan. Unlike China’s “One China Principle,” the U.S. stance remains ambiguous, neither endorsing nor rejecting Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington provides Taipei with defensive support and opposes forced reunification. While maintaining strategic ambiguity, the U.S. has increased arms sales, military training, and joint exercises to strengthen Taiwan’s defense against growing threats from China.
Taiwan began trialing the 14-day reservist training program in 2022. With the formation of reserve brigades across 18 counties and cities, this new training system will be fully implemented this year.
Edited by Taejun Kang.