Taipei: Taiwan President Lai Ching te has taken part in military exercises focused on defending the island's coastline as Taiwan continues a major annual war games programme designed to prepare its forces for a possible attack by China.
Lai joined Saturday's coastal defence exercise in southern Taiwan, where he observed naval and coast guard forces operating alongside drones and other military units. The drill formed part of the 10 day Han Kuang military exercises, which began earlier this week and are being conducted under conditions intended to resemble the uncertainty and pressure of an actual conflict.
The exercises come at a time of growing military tension between Taiwan and China. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against moves that it sees as supporting Taiwanese independence. Taiwan, which has its own democratically elected government and armed forces, says its military preparations are defensive and necessary to protect its people.
During Saturday's exercise, Lai travelled aboard a domestically developed fast attack missile boat and watched forces practise responding to a potential assault from the sea. The coastal operation included Taiwan's Coast Guard, highlighting the importance of cooperation between military and civilian maritime forces in the event of a crisis.
The scenario reflects one of Taiwan's biggest security concerns. If China attempted to invade the island, one possible route would involve landing troops along Taiwan's coastline. Taiwan's military has therefore been placing greater emphasis on detecting, slowing and striking an attacking force before it can establish a foothold.
Drones are also playing a growing role in the exercises. Taiwan has been expanding its use of unmanned systems as military planners study lessons from recent conflicts around the world. Drones can be used for surveillance, targeting and attacks while reducing the risk to personnel.
The coastal drill is only one part of this year's wider Han Kuang exercise. More than 20,000 reservists are taking part, while military units are being tested in situations involving disrupted communications and rapidly changing battlefield conditions.
Taiwan is also testing how its government and civilian infrastructure would function during a major conflict. The exercises include scenarios involving attacks on important facilities, communication problems and emergency responses. Officials are seeking to ensure that the government can continue operating even if parts of the island's infrastructure are damaged.
Another major focus is giving frontline commanders greater freedom to make decisions. Taiwan's military is testing a command system influenced in part by United States military practices. The aim is to allow units to continue operating even if communication with senior commanders is interrupted.
The change is important because Taiwan's military planners recognise that a real conflict would not necessarily follow a carefully prepared plan. Communications could be disrupted by cyberattacks, electronic warfare or physical attacks on communication facilities. Commanders may therefore have to make quick decisions without waiting for instructions from senior leaders.
Lai has also been directly involved in other parts of the exercise. Earlier this week, he participated in a drill designed to test how Taiwan's leadership would respond if senior government officials were targeted during an attack. The exercise examined whether the government could continue functioning and move key personnel to secure locations.
His involvement in the military exercises sends a political as well as military message. Taiwan wants to show that preparations for a possible conflict involve not only soldiers and weapons but also the country's political leadership and civilian institutions.
China has strongly opposed Taiwan's military preparations and closer security relationship with the United States. Chinese military aircraft and naval forces have conducted frequent activities around Taiwan in recent years, increasing pressure on the island and forcing its armed forces to remain prepared for a range of possible situations.
Taiwan's latest exercises do not mean that an attack is about to happen. The Han Kuang drills are scheduled military exercises that Taiwan holds each year. However, the scale and realism of this year's training show how seriously Taipei is preparing for the possibility of a major crisis.
The exercises are increasingly focused on what could happen after an attack begins, rather than simply displaying weapons and military equipment. Taiwan is testing whether its forces can continue fighting, whether its government can keep operating and whether civilian agencies can respond if communications and infrastructure come under pressure.
For Lai's government, the message is clear. Taiwan wants to make any possible attack as difficult and costly as possible by strengthening its coastal defences, improving military coordination and preparing both soldiers and civilians for a prolonged crisis.
As the Han Kuang exercises continue, Taiwan's military will be closely watching how its forces perform under simulated wartime conditions. The results could influence future defence planning as the island continues to face pressure from Beijing and seeks to strengthen its ability to respond to any potential threat.