Taiwan military drills simulate repelling Chinese invasion force

Artillery commander Ong Yih-ming stated that the training is no longer about set-piece maneuvers but is based on realistic combat conditions, posing a considerable difficulty for the troops. Rocket commander Liao Neng-cheng noted that preparation time was significantly tighter this year, with units arriving only one day before the exercise, unlike previous years where preparation began a week in advance.

The exercise utilized domestically developed Thunderbolt-2000 rocket systems, U.S.-made Paladin howitzers, anti-tank missiles, artillery, and mortars to establish a "kill zone." The Thunderbolt-2000 system, designed for long-range suppression and high mobility, saw its first live-fire use in an operational area in seven years.

China considers Taiwan its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve unification. Taiwan's government rejects these claims, asserting that only its people can decide their future.