• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Taiwan to hold annual live-fire exercise

ROC Central News Agency

2016/08/21 18:20:55

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense announced Sunday the drafting of reservists ahead of the start of Taiwan's annual live-fire exercise the following day.

An unspecified number of reservists, who recently received draft orders, have been told to report for duty at the time and locations listed on their orders to take part in the Han Kuang No. 32 exercise, the ministry said.

From Monday to Friday, Taiwan's military will conduct drills around the country designed to test its combat ability in scenarios simulating Chinese attacks to take over territory under the Republic of China's control, according to the ministry.

This year's Han Kuang drills will for the first time see the drafting of information technology specialists in the military reserves for exercises planned for possible cyber attacks, the ministry said.

The major live-fire exercises, meanwhile, are scheduled for the Air Force in Penghu County Aug. 23, for the Navy on Aug. 23 and Aug. 25, for the defense force in Kinmen that will be tested for its anti-landing abilities Aug. 25, and joint drills of the Army, Navy and Air Force in Pingtung County, also Aug. 25, according to the ministry.

Over 1,100 reservists reported for duty in Pingtung Aug. 19 to prepare for the Han Kuang exercises, while a Liberty Times report published Sunday estimated that nearly 10,000 reservists have been drafted for the five-day drills.

It has been reported that President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is scheduled to inspect the drills in Pingtung Aug. 25 as commander-in-chief for the first time since she took office May 20, but this has not been officially confirmed.

The Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau recently announced closures of the Hsuehshan Tunnel on National Freeway No. 5 connecting Taipei and Yilan from 12 a.m.-6 a.m. Aug. 23-24 for routine exercises planned in response to disasters and road accidents.

The tunnel closure scheduled for Aug. 24, according to local media reports, is designed to test the defense of Taipei against enemy forces seeking to capture the seat of the government from Yilan.

(By Claudia Liu and Kay Liu)
ENDITEM/J