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BBC News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Han Kuang: What happens in Taiwan's annual military exercise?
Taiwan's annual military exercise, Han Kuang, begins on Wednesday as the island ramps up its defence against a possible invasion from as the largest and longest one so far, this year's Han Kuang will last for about 10 days, about twice the duration of last year's it is aimed at readying Taiwan's population for a possible attack, it is also meant to publicly showcase the island's defences and send a clear signal to claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to "reunify" with it some day, while not ruling out the use of force. This prospect has raised fears of a wider conflict drawing in the US, Taiwan's chief ally. What is Han Kuang? Held annually since 1984, Han Kuang sees thousands of troops take part in large-scale land, sea and air exercises that showcase Taiwan's latest military its full name in Chinese technically refers to the reclaiming of the Chinese mainland - one of the aims of Taiwan's first Republic of China government - its actual purpose is to rehearse Taiwan's defensive concern over a possible attack from China has mounted in recent years, Han Kuang has evolved significantly. What happens during the exercise? This year, authorities held a series of computerised table-top military exercises in April as a precursor to the live-fire drills that will be held from 9 to 18 July. During these drills, hardware such as rocket launchers, drones, and locally developed missiles are include the much touted and newly acquired mobile rocket launch system Himars supplied by the US - the same system Washington has given to Ukraine - which has a much further range than current ones used by the Taiwan military. The exercises will involve about 22,000 reservist troops - about 50% more than last last year, the drills will be unscripted to test troops' response to a surprise attack - a move that has been praised by military analysts and seen as long change appears to have been made in response to criticism over the years that previous drills appeared to be more of a public relations exercise instead of an actual military year, part of the exercises will focus on combating China's increasing greyzone warfare tactics against Taiwan which have seen Beijing's fighter jets and ships repeatedly intrude in airspace and recent years, Han Kuang has included a civil defence component where civilians across the island participate in multiple evacuation and air raid rehearsals. During this year's "urban resilience" drills, which will each last about 30 minutes, mobile phone alerts will be sent out about incoming attacks and air raid sirens will blare out in cities. Road traffic will be restricted while transport hubs, shops, hotels, and markets will have to suspend will also test Taiwanese society's ability to counter misinformation and the work of the Chinese Communist Party's United Front, according to reports, although it is unclear how exactly this would be tested. Why is Taiwan ramping up Han Kuang? China has been ramping up its greyzone warfare and disinformation campaigns in Taiwan, which some observers say are meant to wear down the island's defences. The US has warned that China poses an "imminent threat" to Taiwan, referring to a 2027 deadline that President Xi Jinping has allegedly given for China's military to be capable of invading Taiwan. This is a date that has never been confirmed by Beijing - however the US insists that China is "credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power" in between Taiwan and China have also become particularly tense under the Democratic Progressive Party's President William Lai, who was elected last year. Reviled by Beijing as a "separatist", Lai has taken a more forceful stand against China compared to his predecessor, including beefing up Taiwan's military. Why is this year's Han Kuang significant? The changes in Han Kuang are actually part of a broader push to reform Taiwan's military and defence, which has come under criticism both domestically and externally in recent Taiwanese public's confidence in their own military fluctuates but has generally been middling, with one survey last year showing only 47.5% have confidence in their defence both Trump administrations, the US has repeatedly pushed Taiwan to spend more on its defence and modernise its military. The move to bolster their own defences comes as doubt grows in Taiwan that the US under Donald Trump would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack. The US is compelled by legislation to help Taiwan defend itself, but Trump has been ambiguous about this and recently refused to comment on whether he would stop China from taking Taiwan by the changes in Han Kuang, Taiwan in recent years has also moved to extend its compulsory military service, developed its own submarines and missiles, and built up its urban and civil defence has also invested in smaller and more mobile weapons systems including drones, and upped its training of soldiers in asymmetric warfare as part of its so-called "porcupine" strategy aimed at making the island more difficult to capture.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China says Taiwan president spreading 'heresy' with sovereignty speech
BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Monday accused Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te of "heresy", hostility and provocation, after a speech in which he said the island is "of course" a country and there is historical evidence and legal proof to back this up. Beijing says democratically-governed Taiwan is "sacred" Chinese territory that has belonged to China since ancient times, and that the island is one of its provinces with no right to be called a state. Lai and his government strongly reject that view, and have offered talks with China multiple times but have been rejected. China calls Lai a separatist. China's Taiwan Affairs Office, responding to Lai's Sunday evening speech, said he had intentionally distorted history to promote his Taiwan independence agenda and that the island has never been a country. "It was a 'Taiwan independence' declaration that blatantly incited cross-strait confrontation, and a hodgepodge of 'Taiwan independence' fallacies and heresies full of errors and omissions," it said in a statement. "The fallacies fabricated by Lai Ching-te in contravention of history, reality and jurisprudence will only be swept into the rubbish heap of history." Lai has repeatedly said that only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and that, as the People's Republic of China has never ruled the island, it has no right to claim it or speak on its behalf. In 1949, the Republic of China government fled to Taiwan after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, and that remains the island's formal name. Taiwan has over the past five years faced stepped-up military and political pressure from China, including war games.
Wall Street Journal
19-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Taiwan Central Bank Stays on Hold Amid Resilient Growth
Taiwan's central bank again left interest rates unchanged as the export-reliant economy remained resilient in the face of tariff headwinds. The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) kept its benchmark discount rate at 2.000% on Thursday, marking a fifth consecutive hold. The decision was expected by all eight economists polled by The Wall Street Journal.
Reuters
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Taiwan's storied Palace Museum must expand its global horizons, president says
TAIPEI, June 13 (Reuters) - Taiwan's National Palace Museum, home to one of the world's biggest collections of imperial Chinese treasures, must expand its horizons internationally to let the "world see Taiwan", President Lai Ching-te said on Friday as it marked its centenary. The museum was re-established in Taiwan in 1965 after the Republic of China government lost a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists and fled to the island in 1949, taking with them thousands of cases of antiques once owned by China's emperors, saving them from destruction during and after the revolution. While it is a top tourist attraction, the presence of so many Chinese artefacts has over the years caused discomfort to those Taiwanese who champion the island's separate and distinct identity from China. Speaking to inaugurate an exhibit of French impressionist and early modernist paintings from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lai said the National Palace Museum was a "state asset". "The National Palace Museum not only needs to deepen its roots locally, it also needs to deepen them internationally. We need to go into the world, to let the world see Taiwan, but also to bring the world to Taiwan," he said at the museum, located in Taipei's foothills. "The National Palace Museum is not only the National Palace Museum of Taiwan, but also the National Palace Museum of the world, and I believe these values should be strongly supported by the international community." A competing institution remains in Beijing, the similarly named Palace Museum, though the National Palace Museum is not planning any joint anniversary events with China. Quincy Houghton, the Met's Deputy Director for Exhibitions and International Initiatives, speaking at the event with Lai, praised the close relations between the museums, including in 1996 when the National Palace Museum sent some of its collection to the Met. "We are honoured to collaborate with the National Palace Museum on its very special centennial year," she said. Works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne are on show at the National Palace Museum until mid-October.
Reuters
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
China can't decide whether we are a country, Taiwan foreign minister says
TAIPEI, May 21 (Reuters) - China has no right to decide whether or not Taiwan is a country given it chooses its own government, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said on Wednesday, adding that he would be happy to shake the hand of his Chinese opposite number in friendship. China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has stepped up military and political pressure to assert those claims, including increasing the intensity of war games, saying the island is one of its provinces with no right to be called a state. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and his government strongly reject that view, and have offered talks with China multiple times but have been rejected. China calls Lai a "separatist". Asked by Reuters what he would say to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi should they ever meet, Lin said that given the opportunity he would definitely shake hands with him. "What the nature is of cross-Taiwan Strait relations can be discussed, but we are all human. First, extend the hand of friendship. If he shook my hand, that would be a good start," he said at a press briefing to mark the first anniversary of Lai taking office. "If he takes his hand back, that's his problem." Taiwan's formal name is the Republic of China, the name of the government which in 1949 fled to the island after losing a bloody civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, who established the People's Republic of China. "Whether or not Taiwan is a country is not up to Wang Yi, nor the People's Republic of China, to say. The whole world sees us as a country. We choose our governments democratically. It is our business what our name is." China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The chances Lin and Wang could meet are low. Neither government recognises the other, officials do not visit each other, and Taiwan is not a member of most international bodies due to China's objections. Lai on Tuesday reiterated an offer to talk to China, saying he sought peace but that the island must also boost its defences. China responded by saying his comments were a "two-faced tactic" that were a "waste of effort and doomed to fail". Taiwan's government has warned that Beijing could mark the anniversary with more military drills.
