Experts applaud progress in Taiwan’s defense drills, call for next steps

Each spring and summer, Taiwan enters its peak training season, typically conducting two major exercises: the military-focused Han Kuang Exercise and the civil defense-oriented Urban Resilience Exercise, formerly known as the Wan An drills.

This year’s Han Kuang 42 exercise began with computer-assisted war games on April 10 and will run through April 24, followed by live-fire and field operations scheduled for August. 

Meanwhile, the Urban Resilience Exercise kicks off on April 22 and runs for approximately four months, focusing on the activation of the Central Joint Emergency Operations Center (CJEOC), nationwide mobilization, critical infrastructure protection, and air defense drills, with participation from 11 local governments.

Taiwan-US ties

Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), was invited to observe the Han Kuang 42 computer war games integrated with the CJEOC exercise, according to NOWNEWS.

The visit aimed to provide insight into Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense preparedness and interagency coordination mechanisms.

Taiwan’s National Security Council stated that the drills focus on five key areas: evacuation and sheltering, medical evacuation and surge capacity, joint transportation coordination, strategic communication, and countering enemy collaboration.

Tai Hsiao-chun (戴孝君), secretary-general of the Asia-Pacific Policy Research Association told TCN that Greene’s presence symbolized US commitments to Taiwan while also serving as a reminder for Taipei to continue prioritizing defense spending and capability development. Tai is one of the key drivers behind Taiwan's major civilian tabletop exercises.

Tai noted that US involvement in Taiwan’s exercises has deepened in recent years. However, he cautioned that such cooperation must balance strategic signaling with the risks associated with exposing sensitive information.

Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), director of the Division of Defense Strategy and Resources at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), shared a similar view. 

He told TCN that the visit both demonstrated Washington’s security commitment and highlighted Taiwan’s determination to strengthen its defense.

Su pointed out that during last year’s Han Kuang exercise, a US Indo-Pacific Command J5 deputy director was unexpectedly seen alongside Taiwan’s defense minister. 

This year’s invitation for Greene to observe civil defense drills reflects Taiwan’s efforts to integrate military and civilian defense systems and signals growing national resilience to international partners, Su said.

Evolution of Taiwan’s exercise system

Taiwan’s Han Kuang Exercise originated from joint military drills conducted with US advisory forces prior to 1979. 

After the termination of the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty following Washington’s diplomatic recognition of the People’s Republic of China and the severing of official ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan), the exercise was reorganized and renamed the Han Kuang Exercise in 1984.

The Urban Resilience Exercise evolved from the Wan An and Min An drills. 

Wan An, launched in 1978, was an annual nationwide mobilization exercise, while Min An, introduced in 2015, focused on disaster response in selected localities. The two were formally integrated into the Urban Resilience framework in 2025.

Reforms

Tai said the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has made notable improvements in recent years by incorporating external feedback, a development he said deserves recognition from both the public and international partners.

However, he raised concerns about the growing emphasis on “decentralized operations” in annual exercises. He argued that large-scale drills should prioritize assessing unit capabilities, clarifying operational roles, and strengthening coordination and resource integration rather than focusing heavily on decentralization.

“The core of annual exercises should be improving interoperability — communications, intelligence sharing, logistics, and joint command functions,” Tai said.

Su said that over the past five years, Taiwan’s exercises have clearly shifted toward realism, including longer durations, incorporation of international combat lessons, and stronger military-civil integration. 

Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly the use of unmanned systems, as well as training exchanges with the United States, have been gradually incorporated, Su added.

He also noted that the integration of civil defense drills into Han Kuang reflects Taiwan’s move toward a “whole-of-society” defense model, enabling responses to both peacetime disasters and wartime contingencies through centralized command mechanisms.

Calls for a national security strategy

Tai welcomed the inclusion of interagency coordination in the drills, noting that modern warfare extends beyond the military domain. However, he said that Taiwan still lacks a comprehensive national security strategy to guide such efforts.

While Han Kuang has evolved into a whole-of-government exercise, he said, the overarching strategic framework remains underdeveloped.

Tai also questioned Taiwan’s heavy reliance on the concept of “asymmetric warfare capabilities.” 

Given the significant cross-strait military imbalance, he argued that focusing solely on capabilities is insufficient. Instead, Taiwan should adopt a broader “asymmetric strategy” approach, addressing issues such as maintaining open sea lanes, preventing blockades, and building cross-ministry response mechanisms.

“Taiwan needs an asymmetric strategy, not just asymmetric capabilities,” Tai said, stressing that a comprehensive national security framework is essential for deterrence and conflict prevention.

Future directions

Su said Taiwan’s recent exercises demonstrate significant progress but warned that defense preparedness must continuously evolve in response to changing threats.

He suggested greater use of underground infrastructure — such as metro systems and underground malls — as command nodes or emergency shelters to enhance survivability.

At the strategic level, he recommended expanding logistics mobilization plans by leveraging Taiwan’s status as a major maritime nation, including the potential requisition of commercial shipping and civilian aviation assets in times of crisis.

On energy security, Su noted that Taiwan’s natural gas reserves currently cover about 14 days, posing potential vulnerabilities. However, he emphasized that a diversified energy mix would allow the island to maintain roughly 30% of power supply in emergencies, sufficient to sustain essential services and critical infrastructure.

He added that the government should improve transparency and public communication to alleviate concerns and strengthen societal resilience.