Taiwan air-sea military drill simulates repelling invasion as Beijing threat persists
- Live-fire drill is largest of its kind for five years, island’s defence ministry says
- Drill forms part of Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang exercises
Taiwan’s military has staged a joint air-sea drill as part of its annual Han Kuang exercises, held to test the combat-readiness of its forces in the face of persistent military threats from the mainland.
The live-fire drill, staged on Wednesday morning off the self-ruled island’s east coast, involved 20 warships and 22 fighter jets, simulating a raid by an enemy force at the military port of Suao in northeastern Taiwan, the defence ministry said.
It also included a scenario in which a large number of enemy planes flew towards the north of Taiwan from across the Taiwan Strait, according to the ministry.
“The warships included two Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, La Fayette-class frigates, Ching Chiang-class patrol ships, Tuo Chiang-class corvettes and Kuang Hua-class missile boats, while warplanes like F-16s, Mirage 2000s and indigenous defence fighter jets were also dispatched to take part in the joint exercise,” a ministry official said.
Anti-air missiles and anti-submarine rockets were used as part of the live-fire drill, which was the largest of its kind in five years, the official said.