Taiwan kicked off the live-fire portion of its Han Kuang 41 military drills on Wednesday. The focus this year is sharpening gray zone warfare skills in response to rising threats. Forces are responding to simulated enemy actions, including electronic warfare and disinformation attacks. Throughout the first day, Taiwan’s military concentrated on medium and high-intensity gray zone threats. These threats included incursions by enemy coast guard and militia vessels. The military also trained to counter interference from electronic attacks and fake news campaigns.
Unlike past drills, this year’s exercise features no fixed scenario. The military will carry out continuous operations without interruption. This new format aims to replicate the chaos and unpredictability of real conflict. The Han Kuang 41 drills will run until July 18, making it the longest in the exercise’s history. As Chinese military pressure increases, Taiwan is adapting to meet new strategic challenges. The live-fire segment tests the military’s ability to deploy quickly and respond flexibly.
Navy ships and mobile radar units have already moved to assigned tactical positions. Missile teams also shifted to strategic locations. Each unit follows real-time updates instead of preset plans. This method improves coordination under unexpected battlefield conditions. Meanwhile, the Army’s 206th Brigade began a 14-day readiness mission on July 5. This brigade is responsible for defending the Greater Taoyuan area. The mission includes weapons training, combat drills, and planning at the battalion level.
Reservist forces are also involved in the large-scale operation. About 3,000 reservists have joined across Taoyuan City, Linkou, and Guishan. On Monday, 120 reservists in Taoyuan took part in live-fire machine gun and mortar drills. They also completed close-quarters combat training. The government continues enhancing gray zone warfare skills through realistic and intensive exercises. Taiwan’s defense strategy depends on fast responses and trained personnel. Every aspect of Han Kuang 41 pushes troops to develop better gray zone warfare skills in modern hybrid threats.
