Taiwan invites US military observers to computer war games during annual Han Kuang exercises
- Pentagon and military specialists will be asked to evaluate Taipei’s combat readiness
- Taiwan is making the most of goodwill from its vocal ally in the White House
Taiwan has formally invited US officers to observe the computer-simulated part of its annual Han Kuang military exercises in April to help assess the self-ruled island’s ability to fend off a threat from mainland China, according to a Taiwanese military source.
US officers have observed war games on the island before but their presence was not publicly acknowledged.
“Representatives of the Pentagon, Indo-Pacific Command, special forces, as well as specialists in unmanned aviation, undersea mines and other related warfare will be asked to join Taiwanese officers,” the military source said on Tuesday. “Afterwards, they will offer suggestions on devising war tactics.”
Taiwan is expected to hold its first round of computer war games over five days next spring. Taipei has been emboldened by the support of US President Donald Trump and legislation from Washington, including the Taiwan Travel Act and National Defence Authorisation Act, that permits high-level exchanges between officials and armed forces.
With Beijing’s expansionist policies and the People’s Liberation Army as perceived common enemies, the Trump White House has increasingly looked to Taiwan as an Indo-Pacific ally against mainland China.