Taiwan’s largest annual military exercise showcased newly acquired American-made tanks and missile systems. An analyst told Newsweek that this will make any Chinese military invasion of Taiwan a much costlier endeavor.
The newly acquired equipment will be featured as part of the live-fire portion of the Han Guang exercise. The exercise began on Wednesday and will last a record-breaking 10 days, double the usual duration. Additionally, it will involve the mobilization of 7,000 reservists to test their readiness.
The 41st edition of the “Han Guang” exercise is taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions with China. Despite China’s ongoing attempts to annex Taiwan by force, the Taiwanese people have consistently rejected Beijing’s claims.
China has been ramping up military pressure on Taiwan, with fighter jets crossing the Taiwan Strait median line almost daily. The median line in the Taiwan Strait has long served as the de facto boundary between the two sides. Since President Lai Ching-te took office in Taiwan, China has intensified its pressure through multiple large-scale military exercises.
The United States is Taiwan’s main arms supplier and is responsible for assisting Taiwan in its self-defense.
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, Wednesday’s exercise simulated actions by Chinese coast guard and pseudo-military vessels in the “gray zone.”
Participants in the Han Guang exercise will for the first time utilize the newly commissioned American High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Taiwan’s domestically produced ground, air defense, and anti-ship missiles for training.
Taiwan acquired its first batch of 11 HIMARS rocket launchers from the US last November, with a total order of 29 sets. This precision-guided artillery system has proven effective in Ukraine’s defense against Russian forces. The wheeled rocket launchers can launch three types of ammunition, inflicting devastating strikes within a range of 64 to 300 kilometers.
The TOW 2B anti-tank missiles also made their debut. Originally facing delays due to failing initial inspections by the US Army, the ordered 1,700 missiles all arrived in Taiwan by the end of last year.
Another significant addition is the newly arrived American-made M1A2T Abrams tanks, which participated in live-fire exercises on Thursday. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, these tanks are not part of the Han Guang exercise as they have not been officially put into service.
Taiwan allocated $1.45 billion to purchase 108 Abrams tanks, with the first batch of 38 delivered last December and the remaining 70 expected to be delivered later this year through 2026.
Shu Hsiao-hung, Deputy Researcher at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told Newsweek that the HIMARS and Abrams tanks will significantly enhance Taiwan’s military capabilities.
“Their mobility, precision, and firepower are several times stronger than Taiwan’s current weaponry,” he said.
Shu added, “With the HIMARS and Abrams tanks, the Taiwanese military can target potential Chinese landing forces from long distances with precise firepower, gradually wearing down the enemy. Taiwan will deploy these new equipment in a dispersed manner to avoid being destroyed by Chinese long-range rockets and similar weapons.
“These new weapons not only increase the cost and risk of Chinese landing operations but also make it more difficult for the mainland (China) to formulate its operational plans.”
Major General Dong Ji-xing, Director of the Joint Operations Planning Department at the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense, stated that in the first three days of the exercise, special attention will be paid to the possibility of China escalating gray zone activities into an invasion.
The exercise will enter the “full-scale war exercise” phase from July 13-18, including coastal and beachfront landing exercises simulating amphibious assaults. The final three days will focus on military drills emphasizing protracted warfare.
Taiwanese officials have stated that this year’s Han Guang exercise is based on the assumption of a potential Chinese attack in 2027.