- Taiwan's military simulated repelling a Chinese air landing assault on the strategically vital Penghu Islands on Monday.
- Troops from the First Theatre Command opened fire in the pre-dawn hours on a beach in Penghu, forming a multi-layered defense against a simulated enemy attempting a rapid coastal landing.
- Reservists from Penghu took part in the exercise, part of their 14-day training program as Taiwan's military works to better integrate reserve forces into its operational planning.
- Later on Monday, the government will deliberately slow mobile internet speeds for the first time during the civil defense part of the drills, testing how citizens would communicate if bandwidth became scarce in emergencies.
- Northern Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, will see the same exercise on Thursday.
- The government has widely flagged the drill, sending a text message alert to mobile phones across Taiwan in both Chinese and English.
- Key services, from ATMs and traffic signals to emergency ambulance calls, will not be affected during the internet slowdown.
- Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, stating that only the island's people can decide their future.
Taiwan's military simulated repelling a Chinese air landing assault on the strategically vital Penghu Islands on August 10, as part of the annual Han Kuang exercise. This 10-day drill rehearses various scenarios in response to China's threats to seize Taiwan by force.1
Troops from the First Theatre Command opened fire on a beach in Penghu, employing M60A3 tanks and anti-aircraft guns to form a multi-layered defense against a simulated enemy landing. The islands are viewed as a potential first target for Beijing, which could use them as a base for missile and drone attacks on Taiwan.23
In a notable first, the Taiwanese government will deliberately slow mobile internet speeds during the drills to test communication capabilities in emergencies, including potential invasions. Key services like ATMs and emergency calls will remain unaffected, ensuring public safety.58
The government has widely publicized the drill, sending alerts to mobile phones across Taiwan and posting messages on social media. The exercise will extend to northern Taiwan, including the capital, Taipei, later in the week. Taiwan's government firmly rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, asserting that only the island's people can determine their future.69
“The exercise involved reservists from Penghu as part of their 14-day training program, with troops using M60A3 tanks and artillery to form a multi-layered defense. The mobile internet slowdown, affecting only mobile speeds, tests citizen communication during emergencies, while key services like ATMs and traffic signals remain unaffected.”
