Taiwan’s Han Kuang Drills Shift Focus to Resilience, US-Style Combat Readiness

Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military drills are placing greater emphasis on battlefield resilience, civilian preparedness and sustained combat operations rather than showcasing advanced weapons, reflecting what experts describe as increasingly visible influence from the US military.

The exercises, which began Wednesday and will continue through August 14 at locations across Taiwan, are testing the armed forces’ ability to maintain 24-hour defensive operations and respond to China’s “gray-zone tactics,” which seek to pressure Taiwan without crossing into full-scale war.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claims and maintains that it is a sovereign democracy. The United States does not formally recognise Taiwan as a country but remains committed under US law to helping the island maintain its self-defence capabilities.

A notable feature of this year’s drills is the use of US-style military training methods, including “backbriefing”, in which junior personnel explain to commanders how they intend to execute assigned missions. Analysts say the method is designed to make frontline troops more independent and improve battlefield coordination.

William Yang, a senior Northeast Asia analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the exercises represented a shift away from largely symbolic displays of firepower toward practical combat readiness. The drills are also expected to involve around 20,000 reservists, according to local media, highlighting Taiwan’s efforts to compensate for its significant military disadvantage compared with China.

Civil defence is another major component. Urban resilience exercises are being conducted in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, including simulated telecommunications disruption through temporary reductions in mobile internet speeds. Political scientist Lev Nachman said President Lai Ching-te’s focus on readiness and civilian resilience reflected domestic budget constraints. Lai had sought a $40 billion special defence budget, but parliament approved a smaller $24.8 billion package.

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over a proposed $14 billion US arms package for Taiwan, with President Donald Trump yet to approve the sale. Despite those concerns, experts say military cooperation between Washington and Taipei remains strong.