TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s military has staged a new combat-readiness drill simulating an enemy airborne assault on an airport, underscoring the island’s continued efforts to prepare for a potential conflict as tensions across the Taiwan Strait remain high.
The First Combined Arms Battalion of the Taitung Area Command conducted the exercise on Saturday, deploying CM21 armored personnel carriers and light vehicles in a scenario designed to test how quickly troops could respond to an attack on critical infrastructure.
According to Taiwan News, the drill involved reconnaissance, loading operations and rapid troop deployment before armored vehicles moved into tactical positions for a simulated counterattack. Soldiers dismounted quickly, used the terrain for cover and advanced toward designated targets, while vehicle crews simulated engaging enemy forces using .50-caliber machine guns and 40mm grenade launchers.
Why an Airport Attack Scenario Matters
The choice of an airport as the focus of the exercise is significant. Airports and airfields are strategically vital during any military conflict, serving as potential hubs for aircraft operations, troop movements and logistics.
While the drill was a training exercise and not a response to a specific imminent threat, it comes as Taiwan increasingly prepares its armed forces for a range of potential conflict scenarios — from air and sea blockades to attacks on critical infrastructure and attempts to establish positions on the island.
The latest exercise follows Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military drills, which have increasingly focused on realistic scenarios involving a potential Chinese attack. This year’s exercises incorporated reservists and civilian participation as Taiwan tested its ability to respond under more demanding wartime conditions.
Taiwan Reviews Its Defences After Han Kuang Exercises
Military units across Taiwan have been reviewing lessons from the Han Kuang exercises, with commanders examining issues ranging from command and control to battlefield coordination and civil-military cooperation.
Taiwan News reported that military reviews have also focused on force preservation, decentralized command systems and the integration of newer technologies, including drones and the Tactical Assault Kit. The findings are expected to help shape future training and operational planning.
That push toward more flexible and resilient operations reflects a broader shift in Taiwan’s defence strategy: ensuring units can continue operating even if communications, infrastructure or conventional command structures come under pressure.
Record Defence Spending Adds to Taiwan’s Military Push
The exercise comes just days after Taiwan proposed a record defence budget for 2027, reflecting growing concern in Taipei over China’s sustained military and political pressure.
The government has proposed spending NT$1.1225 trillion on defence next year, an increase of about 18% that would push military spending above 3% of Taiwan’s GDP. The proposed budget includes investments in areas such as drones, missiles and other defence capabilities, although it must still clear Taiwan’s legislature.
President Lai Ching-te has described stronger defence capabilities as an investment in peace, arguing that Taiwan must build sufficient deterrence to prevent conflict rather than provoke one.
Pressure Continues Around Taiwan and Its Outlying Islands
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the democratically governed island under its control. Beijing has continued military activity around Taiwan, while Chinese coast guard patrols around Taiwan-controlled Kinmen have become another source of tension.
On Sunday, Lai marked the anniversary of the 1958 conflict in Kinmen by stressing that peace must be protected through strength, while reiterating Taiwan’s determination to defend its sovereignty.
Security analysts have also noted that China’s approach is not limited to large-scale military exercises. Recent assessments point to continued pressure through maritime patrols and other forms of coercion, particularly around Taiwan’s outlying islands.
The Bigger Picture
Saturday’s airport assault simulation may have been a routine training exercise, but its timing highlights Taiwan’s wider military transformation.
Taiwan is moving beyond traditional large-scale drills and placing greater emphasis on rapid response, dispersed forces, drones, resilient command structures and the defence of critical infrastructure.
For Taipei, the message is increasingly clear: the best way to preserve peace is to ensure its military is prepared for the scenarios it hopes never happen.
As Taiwan pours more resources into its defences and China maintains pressure around the island, exercises like the one in Taitung are likely to become an increasingly visible part of the region’s security landscape.
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