Taiwan has stepped up military readiness with its annual Han Kuang military exercises, designed to test the island’s ability to respond to a potential Chinese attack.

The drills use live troops, real terrain and military equipment to test command coordination, combat responsiveness and homeland defence capabilities.

Taiwanese authorities say the exercises are aimed at strengthening national defence capabilities and improving coordination between the military and coast guard in the face of external threats.

The annual drills come amid continued tensions across the Taiwan Strait and growing concerns over China’s military pressure on Taiwan.

Taiwan Begins Han Kuang Military Drills to Prepare for Potential Chinese Attack

Taiwan’s military has conducted a major nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) decontamination exercise as part of its ongoing annual Han Kuang military drills.

The exercise in Hualien on Taiwan’s east coast simulated a chemical weapons attack involving personnel, tanks and armoured vehicles. Troops practised rapidly moving contaminated vehicles away from danger, identifying contaminated areas, detecting toxic substances and removing hazardous materials.

Soldiers wearing full protective equipment also underwent body decontamination, while tanks and armoured vehicles were cleaned and disinfected according to designated procedures.

The NBC exercise is one part of the wider Han Kuang military drills, Taiwan’s largest annual military exercises designed to test and strengthen combat readiness against a range of potential threats.

Taiwan Conducts NBC Decontamination Drill | Han Kuang Exercises Simulate Chemical Attack 

<p>The Chinese balloon saga is too reluctant to die down any time soon. Taiwanese military on Thursday stated that found the debris of a possible crashed weather balloon which is most likely to be Chinese.&nbsp;In its statement, the Taiwanese army said that its forces on Dongyin island observed an unknown object falling from the sky and then found the remains of a balloon on a shooting range, reported Reuters news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dongyin island is a part of the Taiwan-controlled Matsu archipelago off the coast of China's Fuzhou.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"The preliminary investigation determined that the remains were of a meteorological detecting instrument, which have been collected by the relevant departments for further evaluation," the statement from Taiwan's army read.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Giving out a brief description of the balloon, the army said that it was an about 1-metre diameter sphere and had an instrument box marked with simplified Chinese characters.&nbsp;The characters, the army said, are used in China and not Taiwan. It read, "Taiyuan Radio No. 1 Factory Co., Ltd.", "GTS13 digital atmospheric sounding instrument" and "meteorological instrument."&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Many Chinese military aircraft, in the last many years, have entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), as per Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense.&nbsp;A few days ago, as per a report, a Taiwanese official revealed that several Chinese surveillance balloons were allegedly spotted over Taiwan in the last few years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, on Tuesday, Taiwan's defence ministry said that all the balloons were weather balloons. Tensions have only escalated between China and Taiwan in the recent past. Both nations are caught in a debate on the status of the island.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>While Taiwan calsd itself a sovereign country, China continues to boast about its One-China policy, with Taipei as its inalienable part.&nbsp;Earlier, there were also reports that Chinese drones flew over Taiwan. Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taepei last year had outraged China which retaliated by carrying out extensive military drills around Taiwan.&nbsp;</p>

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The Chinese balloon saga is too reluctant to die down any time soon. Taiwanese military on Thursday stated that found the debris of a possible crashed weather balloon which is most likely to be Chinese.

The Chinese balloon saga is too reluctant to die down any time soon. Taiwanese military on Thursday stated that found the debris of a possible crashed weather balloon which is most likely to be Chinese. In its statement, the Taiwanese army said that its forces on Dongyin island observed an unknown object falling from the sky and then found the remains of a balloon on a shooting range, reported Reuters news agency. Dongyin island is a part of the Taiwan-controlled Matsu archipelago off the coast of China's Fuzhou. Also Read | Munich Security Conference to kick off tomorrow: what issues will take centre stage? "The preliminary investigation determined that the remains were of a meteorological detecting instrument, which have been collected by the relevant departments for further evaluation," the statement from Taiwan's army read. Giving out a brief description of the balloon, the army said that it was an about 1-metre diameter sphere and had an instrument box marked with simplified Chinese characters. The characters, the army said, are used in China and not Taiwan. It read, "Taiyuan Radio No. 1 Factory Co., Ltd.", "GTS13 digital atmospheric sounding instrument" and "meteorological instrument." Also Read | War a military failure for Russia, Ukraine's tank count rising: Think tank Many Chinese military aircraft, in the last many years, have entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), as per Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense. A few days ago, as per a report, a Taiwanese official revealed that several Chinese surveillance balloons were allegedly spotted over Taiwan in the last few years. However, on Tuesday, Taiwan's defence ministry said that all the balloons were weather balloons. Tensions have only escalated between China and Taiwan in the recent past. Both nations are caught in a debate on the status of the island. Watch | Tesla to share charging network, 3,500 chargers for non-Tesla customers While Taiwan calsd itself a sovereign country, China continues to boast about its One-China policy, with Taipei as its inalienable part. Earlier, there were also reports that Chinese drones flew over Taiwan. Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taepei last year had outraged China which retaliated by carrying out extensive military drills around Taiwan. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Taiwan Army finds remnants of suspected Chinese balloon on remote Dongyin island

Taiwan incorporates 'Ukraine-Russia lessons' during military drill

<p>To strengthen its defence capabilities, Taiwan's army on Tuesday (December 21) conducted specialised training for its tank platoons at the Kengzikou training ground in Hsinchu, as reported by CNA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the report, Taiwan's army battle tanks showed off their fighting capability at a combat firing exercise as two platoons of M-60 Patton and CM-11 Brave Tiger battle tanks open fire at invading forces in a mock attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which has increased military and diplomatic pressure in the past two years to assert its sovereignty claims. It also&nbsp;has vowed to seize it one day.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>As per the report, the Army Armored Training Command said that the training has separate military bases and joint training base training modes.</p>

<p>The department also noted that the current tank platoon specialisation training has two&nbsp;tank platoons per echelon. Thirteen echelons and 26 platoons have been implemented.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Re-emphasising the unification of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday (December 20) said that Taiwan is a "wanderer" who will eventually "return home" and should "not be used as a pawn".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reacting to Wang's statement, Taiwan's China-policymaking Mainland Affairs Council said that the island had never been a part of the People's Republic of China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is neither a wanderer nor a chess piece. Only the 23 million people of Taiwan have the right to decide Taiwan's future, and absolutely will not accept a path laid out by an autocratic political system," it said in a statement sent to Reuters. &nbsp;</p>


To strengthen its defence capabilities, Taiwan's army on Tuesday (December 21) conducted specialised training for its tank platoons at the Kengzikou training ground in Hsinchu, as reported by CNA.

To strengthen its defence capabilities, Taiwan's army on Tuesday (December 21) conducted specialised training for its tank platoons at the Kengzikou training ground in Hsinchu, as reported by CNA. As per the report, Taiwan's army battle tanks showed off their fighting capability at a combat firing exercise as two platoons of M-60 Patton and CM-11 Brave Tiger battle tanks open fire at invading forces in a mock attack. Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which has increased military and diplomatic pressure in the past two years to assert its sovereignty claims. It also has vowed to seize it one day. ALSO READ | China is on a school-building spree in Iraq. Over 1,000 by two firms As per the report, the Army Armored Training Command said that the training has separate military bases and joint training base training modes. The department also noted that the current tank platoon specialisation training has two tank platoons per echelon. Thirteen echelons and 26 platoons have been implemented. × Re-emphasising the unification of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday (December 20) said that Taiwan is a "wanderer" who will eventually "return home" and should "not be used as a pawn". Reacting to Wang's statement, Taiwan's China-policymaking Mainland Affairs Council said that the island had never been a part of the People's Republic of China. "It is neither a wanderer nor a chess piece. Only the 23 million people of Taiwan have the right to decide Taiwan's future, and absolutely will not accept a path laid out by an autocratic political system," it said in a statement sent to Reuters.

Taiwan tank platoons conduct combat firing exercises to strengthen defence abilities

<p>Taiwan began construction on a fleet of indigenous submarines on Tuesday, the latest move by the out-gunned island to bolster its defences against increasingly bellicose threats from Beijing.</p>

<p>Democratic Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by communist China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Beijing has piled on military, economic and diplomatic pressure since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, in part due to her refusal to acknowledge its stance that the island is part of "one China".</p>

<p>"We are letting the world see Taiwan's strong will to defend its sovereignty," Tsai said at a ceremony marking the start of construction in a shipyard in southern Kaohsiung city.</p>

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<p>The long-mooted project aims to deliver eight new submarines, with the first expected by 2025 according to officials.</p>

<p>Taiwan's navy currently has four submarines, including two built by the United States in the 1940s.</p>

<p>In recent decades Taiwan has had to ramp up its own defence industry as China pressures other countries against selling it major weapon platforms.</p>

<p>It has made significant progress on missiles and built its own fighter jet, but its military might is dwarfed by China's People's Liberation Army.</p>

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<p>Washington initially approved an offer back in 2001 to supply eight conventional submarines, but the sale never came to fruition.</p>

<p>Over the same period, China has built itself one of the world's largest navies, with nuclear-powered submarines, aircraft carriers and latest-generation hypersonic missiles within its arsenal.</p>

<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping has adopted the most openly hostile stance towards Taiwan since Mao Zedong.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chinese jets have neared Taiwan's air defence zones at an unprecedented rate this year, forcing Taipei to repeatedly scramble its own ageing fleet.</p>

<p>But the wariness of major arms manufacturing powers to sell to Taiwan may be fading.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Outgoing US President Donald Trump was far more willing to sign off on advanced weapon systems to Taiwan, approving some $18 billion worth of sales, including new-generation fighter jets.&nbsp;</p>


Taiwan began construction on a fleet of indigenous submarines on Tuesday, the latest move by the out-gunned island to bolster its defences against increasingly bellicose threats from Beijing.

Taiwan began construction on a fleet of indigenous submarines on Tuesday, the latest move by the out-gunned island to bolster its defences against increasingly bellicose threats from Beijing. Democratic Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by communist China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary. Beijing has piled on military, economic and diplomatic pressure since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, in part due to her refusal to acknowledge its stance that the island is part of "one China". "We are letting the world see Taiwan's strong will to defend its sovereignty," Tsai said at a ceremony marking the start of construction in a shipyard in southern Kaohsiung city. × The long-mooted project aims to deliver eight new submarines, with the first expected by 2025 according to officials. Taiwan's navy currently has four submarines, including two built by the United States in the 1940s. In recent decades Taiwan has had to ramp up its own defence industry as China pressures other countries against selling it major weapon platforms. It has made significant progress on missiles and built its own fighter jet, but its military might is dwarfed by China's People's Liberation Army. Also read| Thousands join annual Taiwan protest, anger focussed on US pork Washington initially approved an offer back in 2001 to supply eight conventional submarines, but the sale never came to fruition. Over the same period, China has built itself one of the world's largest navies, with nuclear-powered submarines, aircraft carriers and latest-generation hypersonic missiles within its arsenal. Chinese President Xi Jinping has adopted the most openly hostile stance towards Taiwan since Mao Zedong. Chinese jets have neared Taiwan's air defence zones at an unprecedented rate this year, forcing Taipei to repeatedly scramble its own ageing fleet. But the wariness of major arms manufacturing powers to sell to Taiwan may be fading. Outgoing US President Donald Trump was far more willing to sign off on advanced weapon systems to Taiwan, approving some $18 billion worth of sales, including new-generation fighter jets.

Taiwan expanding submarine fleet as China threat grows

Taiwan's airforce held exercises on Tuesday (May 28) as part of its week-long annual drills in the western coastal city of Changhua. The drills, which included fighter jet landings and helicopter patrol exercises, were attended by President Tsai Ing-wen.

Taiwan holds annual military exercises

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