Taiwan’s Han Kuang Drills Point to a More Realistic China-Invasion Defense Plan

Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang exercise is no longer just a staged display, according to the reporting. The latest drills unfolded over 10 days and gave only limited official detail, but their sequence and locations suggested how Taiwan is preparing for a possible fight with China.

The simulated fighting moved from outer defenses toward inland areas and eventually into Taipei. For readers, the key takeaway is that Taiwan appears to be testing how forces respond under pressure rather than simply performing scripted scenarios.

The drills highlighted ambush tactics, dispersed operations, and small-unit decision-making. Taiwanese forces practiced using barricades, narrow streets, and urban intersections to create kill boxes and fire from multiple directions.

This fits Taiwan’s stated “porcupine strategy,” which emphasizes making any attempted capture prohibitively costly rather than matching China force for force. The exercise also included backup plans for units facing heavy casualties and scenarios requiring troops to regroup using civilian infrastructure such as the Taipei subway.

The order of the exercise was revealing: Taiwan began around outer defenses including Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu, then moved through air, naval, logistics, and inland security scenarios. The drills included a presidential evacuation drill, a Tamsui River blockade, rapid runway repair at Hsinchu Air Base, and naval-coast guard exercises involving drones, missile boats, and special forces.

Taiwan also practiced counter-sabotage at an oil refinery in Taoyuan, including decontamination after simulated toxic-gas exposure. The broader message is that planners are preparing for a conflict that could involve missiles, blockades, sabotage, disrupted communications, and urban fighting.

Analysts cited in the report said Taiwan is emphasizing decentralized command, realistic missions, and defense in depth. Junior commanders practiced “back briefs,” a US military doctrine-based process meant to confirm that units understand missions even if communications are disrupted.

The drills also suggested more focus on defending northern Taiwan and the capital area, including moving forces from other regions. If Taiwan’s outer defenses are breached, the exercise points to a plan to keep fighting around key infrastructure, urban centers, and command nodes.