Key facts
- Taiwan's military simulated repelling a Chinese air landing assault on the Penghu Islands.
- Annual Han Kuang war games include a simulation of repelling an air landing assault.
- Mobile internet speeds will be deliberately slowed for the first time during civil defence drills.
- The exercise tests communication resilience in emergencies, including potential Chinese invasion.
- Key services such as ATMs, traffic signals, and emergency calls will remain unaffected.
- The drills were widely communicated to the public in advance.
Taiwan's military conducted a simulation of repelling a Chinese air landing assault on the strategically important Penghu Islands as part of its annual Han Kuang war games. The exercise, which kicked off last week, aims to rehearse various scenarios in the event of a Chinese invasion.
Troops from the First Theatre Command engaged in a pre-dawn beach drill, utilizing tanks, artillery, and anti-aircraft guns to form a multi-layered defence against a simulated enemy coastal landing. Strategists consider Penghu a potential initial target for Beijing, which could use the islands as a base for missile and drone attacks on Taiwan.
For the first time, Taiwan's government will deliberately slow mobile internet speeds during the civil defence portion of the drills. This measure is intended to test how citizens would communicate if bandwidth becomes scarce during emergencies, such as natural disasters or an invasion. Crucial services like ATMs, traffic signals, and emergency ambulance calls will not be affected, nor will landlines or fixed internet services.
The government has widely publicized the drill, sending text message alerts and posting video messages on social media to inform the public. Northern Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, will participate in similar exercises later in the week. Taiwan maintains that only its people can decide their future and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.