Taiwan to test arms production relocation in war games

Taiwan will conduct drills next month to test its ability to relocate weapons production and utilize civilian factories for military purposes in the event of a Chinese attack. The exercises, part of the annual Han Kuang war games from August 5 to 14, are designed to ensure the island can sustain combat operations if China's military activities are used to conceal preparations for an invasion.

The drills will simulate scenarios where China might target command centers, ports, logistics sites, and defense industry facilities early in an attack. According to the defense ministry's planning outline, the exercise will assess Taiwan's capacity to disperse its industrial production while maintaining the necessary output to support its armed forces. Major General Lu Wen-yuan stated that the drills will involve the wartime relocation of the Armaments Bureau's 202nd Arsenal in Taipei and the mobilization of civilian factories for assembly after an emergency order.

In addition to industrial resilience, the drills will also focus on maintaining open sea lanes and protecting critical supply shipments, with joint exercises involving the navy and coast guard. The exercises come amid increased Chinese coast guard activity around Taiwan, raising concerns about potential escalation and threats to vital supply routes. For the first time, Taiwan will also deliberately reduce mobile internet speeds to test citizen communication capabilities during emergencies, such as a Chinese invasion.