In recent times, the military tensions in the Indo-Pacific region have suddenly escalated. The largest post-Cold War air force exercise led by the United States, joint exercises involving the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, joint military exercises by the U.S. and 19 other countries, as well as Taiwan’s longest military exercise, “Han Kuang Exercise,” collectively form the strategic layout adopted by the United States and its allies in response to the growing military threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Experts point out that this series of exercises signifies the comprehensive escalation of the United States’ strategic deterrence against China. Su Zi-yun, director of the Institute of National Defense Strategy and Resources at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told The Epoch Times that these four major military exercises form a “strategic triangle,” working together to contain China’s military expansion.
The United States Indo-Pacific Command launched the “Pacific Resolve” (REFORPAC) exercise from July 10 to August 8 in various locations across the Pacific, which is considered the most comprehensive emergency response exercise ever conducted by the U.S. Pacific Air Force.
This month-long exercise mobilized 12,000 U.S. Air Force and Space Force personnel, deployed over 350 military aircraft of various types, covering cutting-edge military capabilities such as space electronic warfare and orbit warfare.
A major highlight of the “Pacific Resolve” exercise is the inclusion of the capabilities of the U.S. Space Force for the first time, simulating space operations in real-world scenarios.
Furthermore, multiple B-52H strategic bombers were deployed from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, further enhancing the operational flexibility of the United States in the Western Pacific.
U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink explicitly stated that this exercise is the first of its kind held since the Cold War, integrating various sub-projects including “Pacific Resolve Force,” “Pacific Resolve Space,” and “Mobile Guardians,” simulating real-world threat scenarios to enhance the combat capabilities of joint forces and allies.
Dr. Chung Chih-tung, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Taiwan, stated in an interview with The Epoch Times on July 11 that the first-ever joint air force and space force exercise held by the United States in the Indo-Pacific region highlights the importance of the space battlefield.
He pointed out that the deep-seated objectives of this military exercise are threefold: to enhance the U.S. military’s joint combat capabilities in response to China’s developments in space warfare, strengthen allied collaboration to enhance joint combat capabilities with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, and to clearly deter China, signaling a clear warning against any attempts by China to change the international order in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea regions.
As the “Pacific Resolve” exercise is underway, on July 11, the United States, Japan, and South Korea held a joint aerial exercise south of Jeju Island in South Korea. This was the first deployment of the U.S. B-52H strategic bombers to the Korean Peninsula in 2025.
During this exercise, U.S. strategic bombers conducted joint operations with South Korean KF-16 fighters and Japanese F-2 fighters to enhance deterrence against nuclear missile threats in the region.
On July 11, defense ministers from the three countries convened in Seoul, emphasizing the importance of trilateral cooperation in response to regional security challenges. General Dan Caine, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in his opening remarks at the meeting that China and North Korea’s military construction intentions are clear, necessitating a high level of vigilance.
Meanwhile, Taiwan is currently conducting its most important annual military exercise, “Han Kuang No. 41.” This exercise, lasting from July 9 to 18, spans 10 days and 9 nights, mobilizing over 22,000 reserve military personnel, including 7,000 reservists.
The exercise covers three main axes: “Gray Zone Harrassment Response,” emergency operations, and full-scale operations, simulating responses to various potential military actions. The first day of the exercise focused on responding to possible “gray zone” provocations, including anticipated disturbances by the enemy using militia boats and maritime police.
A major highlight of this exercise is the debut of new equipment and live-fire drills. The American-made M1A2T Abrams main battle tanks, the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), and TOW-2B anti-tank missiles all underwent live-fire exercises. In addition, Taiwan’s self-produced “Sky Sword” series of anti-aircraft missiles also participated in the exercise.
It is worth noting that this exercise adopts a continuous drill mode of “no script, uninterrupted,” with a significantly extended duration, being dubbed as the longest “Han Kuang Exercise” ever held, aiming to more realistically test the forces’ sustained combat capabilities and contingency responses.
President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, personally inspected the exercise on the second day (July 10), with the military conducting simultaneous live broadcasts, highlighting the high level of importance attached to the exercise.
In the lead-up to Taiwan’s military exercise, the Chinese military has escalated its aircraft provocations towards Taiwan on multiple consecutive days. On July 10 and 11, Chinese coast guard vessels persistently harassed the waters around Kinmen and adopted the tactic of “dark ships” by turning off Automatic Identification System (AIS) on their vessels.
Su Zi-yun analysis indicates that concerning the Taiwan Strait issue, countries around the world continue to maintain a high level of vigilance. Trump’s tough stance, such as remarks about “bombing Beijing,” is akin to elevating the Taiwan Strait issue to the highest strategic clarity level, clearly conveying the signal of “Taiwan is non-negotiable.”
He believes that the core of the United States holding a series of joint exercises is to reflect its grand strategy, viewing China as the primary threat and emphasizing the prevention of its military invasion of Taiwan as the most important task.
Additionally, the highly-anticipated “Talisman Sabre” multinational joint military exercise is set to kick off next month in Australia. As one of the largest military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, this exercise is expected to be the largest since its inception in 2005.
The “Talisman Sabre 2025” exercise, in its 11th iteration, has seen over 30,000 military personnel arriving in Australia gradually from 19 invited countries, including Australia and the United States.
The exercise covers a vast range, stretching from Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean to the Coral Sea, spanning 6,500 kilometers and touted as the largest joint exercise between the U.S. and Australia to date.
The U.S. amphibious assault ship, USS America, has already sailed into Sydney Harbor, with the strike group carrying 2,500 sailors and Marines, equipped with anti-submarine helicopters and F-35B stealth fighters. The exercise will cover force readiness, amphibious landings, ground force mobility, air, and maritime operations, involving live-fire exercises and field training.
Of special note is India’s first participation in the “Talisman Sabre” exercise, with a significant deployment of forces from European countries. The exercise will include large-scale live rocket artillery and missile system firing exercises conducted by Australia, the U.S., Japan, and Singapore. This will mark the first launch of the HIMARS rocket artillery system in Australia, with Australia’s air defense forces collaborating with the U.S. Patriot system.
Chung Chih-tung stated that against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine and Iraq wars, the United States hopes to make China realize the unbearable cost of invading Taiwan by showcasing its military strength and resolve. Trump even threatened to bomb Beijing, not limited to just military targets, aiming to deter China from initiating war and punish its military adventurism.
Recently, a recording of U.S. President Trump’s warnings to Xi Jinping during a fundraising dinner last year was revealed by the media, showing that he privately warned Xi that if China used force against Taiwan, he would order a “bombing of Beijing.” Trump said, “He (Xi) probably thinks there’s only a 10% chance. In fact, a 5% chance is enough to make them think twice about it.”