The presidential office reported that President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by senior officials, took part in late-night exercises simulating defensive command and ensuring governmental operations during an emergency. He traveled in an armored personnel carrier to a command center while wearing body armor and a helmet, according to images released by the office. This marked the first occasion on which Lai has joined the longstanding «Wan Chun» evacuation plan since he assumed the presidency in 2024. Officials described the drill as part of broader efforts to prepare for potential conflict scenarios.
The 10-day Han Kuang exercises, which began on August 5, test command structures, inter-agency coordination, emergency response mechanisms and the government’s ability to function under wartime conditions, defense officials said. They include combat drills, beach defense training, air raid exercises and civilian preparedness activities across multiple locations. According to reports from Focus Taiwan, the drills also featured protection of critical infrastructure with tanks and armored vehicles deployed in central Taiwan on the opening day.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that it detected 14 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships operating around the island on August 5 as the drills proceeded. Ministry data further indicated 261 PLA aircraft sorties, including crossings of the Taiwan Strait median line, during July 2026.[[1]](https://www.facebook.com/EyesOnTaiwanOfficial/posts/chinese-military-activity-around-taiwan-increased-slightly-in-july-2026-taiwans-/122219571326559799/) An American Enterprise Institute assessment found that such incursions have averaged over 300 per month since Lai took office in 2024, though figures dipped seasonally earlier this year.[[2]](https://www.aei.org/commentary/china-taiwan-update-march-6-2026/)
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its control by force if necessary, a position that has driven heightened military activity in the Taiwan Strait. The exercises occur against this backdrop of continued pressure, with the drills emphasizing realistic training for troops and reservists to respond to an attack. Taiwan has responded by expanding asymmetric capabilities including drones and mobile defense systems.
A Congressional Research Service report from June 2026 noted that Taiwan’s defense budget rose by around 7.5 percent between 2024 and 2025, with President Lai stating an intention to reach 3.3 percent of GDP in 2026.[[3]](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12481) The legislature passed a $25 billion special eight-year budget in May 2026 focused on U.S. arms procurement after cutting an original proposal that included greater domestic production funding. This funding supports efforts to bolster overall military readiness in the face of regional threats.
The Han Kuang drills have evolved in recent years to incorporate more civil defense elements and reservist training as part of a whole-of-society resilience approach, according to analyses from Global Taiwan Institute.[[4]](https://globaltaiwan.org/2025/08/2025-han-kuang-exercise/) Earlier iterations in 2025 featured live-fire exercises observed by Lai, including tank firings and naval mine-laying operations. This year’s edition extends through August 14 and includes urban resilience components scheduled across multiple jurisdictions.
