Taiwan’s military will conduct a five-day combat readiness exercise this week as part of efforts to modernise its training and shift towards more realistic war-scenario simulations, the defence ministry said on Sunday.
The drill comes as Taiwan continues to strengthen its defence capabilities amid rising military pressure from China, which claims the island as its own territory despite objections from Taipei.
Taiwan has increasingly designed its exercises around scenarios in which Chinese military drills near the island could quickly escalate into an actual attack.
The “Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise” will run from Monday to Friday, according to the defence ministry, and is part of annual joint operations training for the armed forces.
The ministry said the main goal is to familiarise units at all levels with combat procedures and battlefield conditions during rapid deployment.
It added that the exercise is aimed at improving the transition from peacetime to wartime operations, including logistics, command coordination and battlefield readiness using real troops, equipment and live implementation.
Officials said the drills will strengthen command systems and enhance joint operational capabilities, particularly in command and control as well as battlefield support functions.
The announcement came on the same day Taiwan reported increased Chinese military activity near the island, including the deployment of 21 aircraft such as fighter jets, early warning planes and aerial refuelling aircraft operating in nearby airspace and the Western Pacific.
Taiwan said it deployed forces to monitor and respond appropriately, using its standard operational language.
China’s defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment outside office hours.
