Taiwan launched its annual war games on Monday, aiming to more realistically simulate an attack from China. This year, Taiwan’s military discarded outdated drills and replaced them with exercises that reflect the current threats.
New Defense Minister Wellington Koo has shifted focus from exercises that served more as media spectacles to drills that test readiness under realistic conditions.
Instead of live-fire drills for show, exercises are now held on Taiwan’s outlying islands, where Chinese vessels and warplanes have been increasingly active. Troops will also engage in impromptu exercises to prepare for real-time responses.
Increased Chinese Presence
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has ramped up its military presence in the region. This heightened threat has made old-style public relations exercises ineffective, according to Ou Sifu from Taiwan‘s Institute of National Defense and Security Research. Koo has pressured the traditionally conservative military to adopt more realistic training methods.
A Taiwanese soldier (Official Photo by Wang Yu Ching / Office of the President / Wikimedia Commons)
Since taking office two months ago, Koo has eliminated outdated practices like goose-step marching and bayonet training, which have no place in modern warfare. The focus now is on decentralizing the command structure to better handle the complexity and unpredictability of modern battlefields. Troops are no longer pre-briefed on every scenario; they must respond spontaneously, enhancing their adaptability.
Preparing for Potential Invasion
China has made it clear that it would not rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control. Following the inauguration of Taiwan’s leader, Lai Ching-te, in May, Beijing launched war games as a punitive measure. Chinese Coast Guard ships have increased their presence around Taiwan’s outlying islands, and aircraft sightings near the main island have become more frequent.
Keelung, Taiwan: Republic of China Navy ship Lan Yang (FFG-935), morning in Keelung Harbour. (Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons)
On Monday, the navy conducted an emergency departure off the coast of northern Yilan county as part of a rapid response exercise. Koo, donning military fatigues, supervised a drill for registering reservists for emergency mobilization in Taoyuan. Major drills are also planned for eastern Hualien County, home to a key air base, and the island of Penghu, located in the Taiwan Strait.
Retired Major General Richard Hu warned that the frequent Chinese military activities could desensitize Taiwan’s forces, likening it to a “boiling frog syndrome.”
This could lead to catastrophic consequences if China decides to launch a full-scale invasion. Japan has revised its estimates, suggesting a ground landing by Chinese troops in Taiwan could occur in less than a week rather than the previous estimate of a month.
Importance of Defense Reforms
Amanda Hsiao from the International Crisis Group emphasized the urgency for Taiwan to accelerate its defense reforms. Taiwan’s military must balance the ongoing daily pressures from Chinese military activities with preparing for a potential large-scale invasion. Without a clear and focused strategy, Taiwan risks being unprepared for both types of threats.
In response to Taiwan’s war games, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning stated that any attempts to seek independence by force or resist unification are bound to fail.
Taiwan’s shift to more realistic and responsive military drills underscores the island’s need to adapt to the growing threat from China. By modernizing training and focusing on real-time responses, Taiwan aims to bolster its defense capabilities and maintain readiness in the face of escalating tensions.
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