The annual Han Kuang military exercise is underway across Taiwan but parts of the drills have had to be scaled back because what could be the most powerful typhoon to hit the island in years is due to make landfall.
Han Kuang, in its 40th iteration this year, is Taiwan’s largest annual military exercise. It covers key strategic locations including Greater Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung.
The military said 29,000 troops had been put on stand-by for disaster relief after the weather office warned that Typhoon Gaemi is expected to unleash winds of up to 184 kph, with gusts of up to 227 kph, and to dump torrential rain.
The storm, which is due to reach the coast on Wednesday evening, is forecast to be the strongest to hit Taiwan in eight years and could cause severe landslides and flooding. Yilan and Hualien counties in the east of the island are expected to be the worst hit.
An air drill with fighter jets taking off, landing and refueling quickly from Hualien Air Base has been canceled.
Hundreds of commercial flights were also canceled or delayed, and Taiwan Railways said all of its services had been suspended for 12 hours from Wednesday afternoon.
Streets in the capital Taipei are empty as offices and schools are shut.
RELATED STORIES
[ Taiwan speeds up preparation for potential conflict with ChinaOpens in new window ]
[ Taiwan’s aircraft and warships stage five-day live-fire exerciseOpens in new window ]
[ Top US general: China likely won’t invade Taiwan soonOpens in new window ]
The games must go on
The ministry of defense said most of the drills, scheduled for July 22-26, are to go ahead despite the weather.
The Taiwanese army’s First Theatre of Operation conducted a joint anti-landing exercise on Penghu island in the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday morning. For the first time, the exercise was live streamed on Facebook, the ministry said.
However, only ground troops were taking part in the drills as naval and air support was canceled due to the weather. The drills are aimed at preparing forces to respond to any landing attempt by the Chinese military.
Responding to the news about the exercise, a Chinese spokesperson said Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, had “exaggerated the so-called mainland threat.”
Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office’s Zhu Fenglian said the DPP’s reliance on foreign countries and use of force to seek independence has “led to tension and turmoil in the Taiwan Strait and seriously threatened the security and well-being of Taiwan compatriots.”
Beijing considers democratic Taiwan a Chinese province that should be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Blockades and landings are deemed the most likely scenarios if China were to choose that option. The Chinese military holds regular exercises near the island.
Besides Han Kuang, the annual Wanan air raid defense exercise is being held this week from Monday to Thursday across Taiwan.
There are five theaters of operation in Taiwan, plus two defense headquarters on the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu near China’s mainland.
Edited by Taejun Kang.