As Taiwan concluded its largest-ever Han Kuang military exercise, annual war games designed to test the island’s ability to repel a Chinese invasion, China simultaneously launched a series of back-to-back drills, overtly simulating an attack and applying strategic pressure. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command issued daily updates detailing synchronized maneuvers designed to mirror and counter Taiwan’s activities.
The 2025 Han Kuang exercise, held from July 9 to 18, was the longest and most comprehensive iteration since its inception in 1984. It marked a significant shift toward whole-of-society defense, emphasizing joint combat operations and responses to “grey zone” threats. The drills featured over 22,000 reservists and incorporated both domestically developed and U.S.-supplied weapons, including Sky Sword II missiles, Abrams M1A2T tanks, and HIMARS rocket systems. For the first time, Han Kuang was paired with the Urban Resilience Exercises, a multi-month campaign held from April through July to test Taiwan’s ability to withstand a prolonged conflict through full societal participation.
The computer-aided phase of the drill was extended from 8 to 14 days, while the live-fire segment doubled from 5 to 10. Key focus areas included electronic warfare, rapid mobilization, integrated air and missile defense, maritime security, and ground operations. The traditionally scripted exercises were replaced with 24/7 unscripted scenarios simulating combat in urban areas, civil-military coordination, and mass evacuation drills in real-world locations such as hypermarkets.
Together, these exercises reflect Taiwan’s evolving national defense posture, toward multi-domain resilience and sustained civil-military coordination. The goal: to prepare the island not only for high-intensity conflict, but for long-term survival under conditions of attrition and disruption.
The Han Kuang exercises are divided into two phases: computer-aided tabletop simulations, which emphasize strategic planning and command coordination, and live-fire drills, which test joint-force combat readiness across air, sea, and land. Recent years have seen an expansion in scope and realism, including responses to cyberattacks, blockades, and other asymmetric threats.
New in 2025 were domestically developed micro surveillance and reconnaissance drones, deployed by the Army for ground surveillance, the Navy for escorting minelaying missions, and the Air Force for air defense support. The Ministry of National Defense allocated NT$1.28 billion (US$43.68 million) to procure 1,458 of these drones between 2024 and 2025.
Additional operations included a simulated counterattack in the Greater Taipei area by Taiwan’s Marine Corps 99th Brigade, featuring HUMVEEs equipped with T-75S 20mm cannons and U.S.-made MK19 grenade launchers, demonstrating urban rapid-response capabilities.
The Urban Resilience Exercises, conducted from April to July in 11 counties and cities, featured air raid drills, disaster response simulations, and training in infrastructure protection, disinformation countermeasures, and civilian-military coordination. Overseen by the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, the campaign aims to prepare both government and civilians for a war of attrition, where frontlines and daily life may become indistinguishable, as seen in conflicts like Ukraine and Israel.
New drone capabilities were tested during the exercises, though Taiwan’s unmanned surface vessels were not yet deemed combat-ready, and newly delivered U.S.-made M1A2T Abrams tanks and HIMARS were not scheduled to participate. Other advanced systems introduced in prior years were included. A reservist brigade was also mobilized to simulate a scenario in which China turns a routine drill into a sudden attack, testing their ability to rapidly assemble, mobilize resources, and convert civilian production for wartime needs. The expanded exercises aimed to strengthen and accelerate Taiwan’s capacity for integrated national defense.
The United States, Taiwan’s principal security partner, has stepped up legislative and military support. In 2025, at least eight Taiwan-related bills advanced in Congress, and U.S. personnel continued training Taiwanese forces. Washington has also urged regional allies like Japan and Australia to clarify their roles in the event of a conflict. The 2025 Han Kuang exercises reflect Taiwan’s growing seriousness about defense, its commitment to national resilience, and alignment with U.S. expectations for regional burden-sharing.
Since taking office in 2024, President Lai Ching-te’s administration has prioritized defense reform, expanding the military budget by 6% to NT$647 billion (US$19.7 billion) with plans to raise spending to 3% of GDP. Reforms include extending mandatory service, restructuring the armed forces, and introducing new laws to counter espionage and pro-unification activities. As cross-strait tensions intensify, experts warn that Chinese grey zone tactics and the risk of escalation make Taiwan’s integrated civil-military preparedness increasingly vital.
China responded with aggressive rhetoric and coordinated military maneuvers, including airspace incursions and export controls targeting Taiwanese defense firms, part of a broader pressure campaign to normalize its military presence around the island.
For four consecutive days, the PLA conducted joint air, sea, and electronic warfare operations. These included nighttime naval aviation drills using star navigation and complex dogfight simulations, as well as electronic warfare exercises involving drone jamming and radar disruption. By midweek, focus shifted to naval combat readiness, with frigate flotillas carrying out live-fire cannon and torpedo drills. On Thursday, air and naval forces held joint rescue and refueling exercises to demonstrate integrated force capabilities.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that over 20 PLA aircraft per day frequently crossed the unofficial median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ), underscoring China’s ability to apply sustained multi-domain pressure.
Beijing has historically used Han Kuang week to register displeasure with Taiwan’s military assertiveness, often combining drills with economic sanctions or amphibious assault simulations. This year, however, the PLA’s actions appeared more sustained and sophisticated, signaling a shift toward real-time operational synergy and a deliberate attempt to counter Taiwan’s defense posture with a show of integrated force.
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