- Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military drills have begun with a sharper focus on combat readiness, reservist mobilisation and civilian resilience, rather than on putting advanced weapons on display.
- The drills, which started on Wednesday and will run till August 14, are designed to test the army’s ability to maintain round-the-clock defence operations and respond to China’s “gray-zone tactics”.
- One of the main features this year is the use of a US-style military communications method known as backbriefing, in which subordinates explain to commanders how they plan to carry out assigned missions.
- Local media reported that around 20,000 reservists, one of the largest numbers yet, will be called up for the drills, though Taiwan’s Defence Ministry did not confirm the figure.
- Experts say the structure of this year’s exercises points to closer military ties with the United States as Taiwan faces continued pressure from China.
- According to William Yang, a senior Northeast Asia analyst at the International Crisis Group, the most important new development is the incorporation of American-style military training methods, which aim to enhance coordination and combat readiness.
- Yang said the emphasis on reserves reflects Taiwan’s effort to deal with the gap in military strength with China, which has more than 2 million active-duty personnel, almost nine times the size of Taiwan’s active-duty forces.
- The drills thus stay away from the mostly performative tasks of firepower display of past years and instead focus on building real combat capabilities.
Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military drills have shifted focus this year to combat readiness and reservist mobilization, running through August 14. The exercises, which began on Wednesday, aim to enhance the island's defense capabilities against China's increasing military pressure.12
The drills are designed to test the army's ability to maintain round-the-clock defense operations and respond to China's “gray-zone tactics”, which involve coercive actions that stop short of open warfare. This year, around 20,000 reservists are expected to participate, marking one of the largest mobilizations yet, although Taiwan's Defence Ministry has not confirmed this figure.4
A significant aspect of this year's exercises is the incorporation of a US-style military communications method known as backbriefing, where subordinates explain their mission plans to commanders. William Yang, a senior Northeast Asia analyst at the International Crisis Group, noted, “The most important new development in this year’s Han Kuang is the incorporation of American-style military training methods, which are aimed at enhancing the coordination and combat readiness of the Taiwanese military.”36
Experts suggest that the shift away from traditional firepower displays towards building real combat capabilities reflects Taiwan's efforts to address the military strength gap with China, which boasts over 2 million active-duty personnel, nearly nine times Taiwan's active forces. The drills signify Taiwan's commitment to strengthening its defense posture amid ongoing regional tensions.78
“The drills incorporate US-style backbriefing, a communications method where subordinates explain mission plans to commanders, signaling closer US ties. Local media report around 20,000 reservists will be called up, one of the largest numbers yet, though the Defence Ministry has not confirmed the figure.”
