Taiwan President Lai Ching-te witnessed coastal strike exercises on Saturday as the island continued its annual Han Kuang military drills, including a simulated response to a potential Chinese assault.
Lai boarded a fast attack missile boat at a naval base in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, where he addressed sailors involved in the exercise. The drills are designed to test the military’s ability to respond quickly and coordinate forces during a conflict.
He said the Han Kuang exercises were intended to assess command coordination, combat responsiveness and homeland defence capabilities by using live troops, actual terrain and operational equipment.
Lai also observed the deployment of small, low-flying attack drones over the beach and surrounding waters as part of the simulated coastal defence operation.
The annual exercises began on Wednesday and will continue for 10 days, focusing on Taiwan’s preparedness for a possible invasion by China. Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the democratically governed island under its control, while Taipei rejects those claims.
Lai said his administration would continue strengthening Taiwan’s defence capabilities in response to external threats and challenges. He also pledged continued support for the military and Coast Guard, although he did not directly name China in his remarks.
He called on personnel taking part in the drills to strengthen coordination and mutual understanding while preparing to respond to different scenarios and protect Taiwan’s sovereignty and the safety of its people.
A new Anping-class Coast Guard catamaran also took part in the exercise, reflecting the Coast Guard’s expected role in supporting naval operations during wartime. The vessels are based on Taiwan’s Tuo Chiang-class fast attack warships, which are highly manoeuvrable and equipped with anti-ship missiles.
Taiwan’s military has described the Tuo Chiang vessels as “aircraft carrier killers” because of their anti-ship capabilities. On Thursday, Lai also observed the installation of missile launchers on an Anping-class Coast Guard vessel.
The latest drills come amid continued tensions between Taipei and Beijing. China regards Lai as a “separatist” and has rejected his repeated calls for dialogue.
