Taiwan’s Armed Forces Ready for Typhoon Gaemi During Han Kuang Exercises
Despite the looming threat of Typhoon Gaemi making landfall on Wednesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence has assured that the armed forces are fully prepared to face the storm while moving ahead with their scheduled annual war games, the Han Kuang exercises.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (ROC) took to its official X handle and said, “Typhoon Kaemi approaches. ROC Armed Forces are ready to respond to potential disasters and continue our drills.”
It added, “If Penghu’s weather is safe for drills, we will have a live broadcast tomorrow morning at 05:30. Welcome, join us.”
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of National Defence had said, “ROC Armed Forces have set up contingency runways and conducted tactical maneuvers for force protection. As a typhoon approaches, we will continue our drills while ensuring our safety.”
Notably, Typhoon Gaemi is expected to make landfall on Wednesday on the northeastern coast of the island, along with strong winds and heavy rainfall, Taiwan’s weather administration said.
Defense Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang told reporters that “the impact of the typhoon” on the east coast has prompted the military to cancel some air and sea exercises.
The Han Kuang exercises are pivotal for Taiwan’s defense strategy, encompassing both live-fire drills and computerized simulations designed to enhance combat readiness amidst regional tensions.
Earlier in the day, thousands of reservists across Taiwan reported for duty as the nation commenced the live-fire phase of its largest annual military exercises, Han Kuang. The drills, coordinated by the Ministry of National Defence’s Joint Operations Command Centre, kicked off at 6 am on Monday, marking the 40th edition of the event. Reservists were deployed to critical locations nationwide as part of the exercises.
In Taoyuan, personnel gathered at Hou Tsou Elementary School, where they began a rigorous refresher training program aimed at defending Taoyuan International Airport, a vital infrastructure identified for anti-landing drills in potential cross-strait conflicts. Hou Tsou Elementary School is strategically located near Taoyuan Airport and Zhuwei Beach, areas deemed vulnerable to PLA landing operations, noted defense analyst Chen Kuo-ming.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island country in East Asia, located near China. It has its own government and military.
Typhoon Gaemi -: A typhoon is a very strong storm with heavy rain and strong winds. Gaemi is the name given to this particular typhoon.
Ministry of National Defence -: This is a part of the government in Taiwan that takes care of the country’s military and defense.
Han Kuang exercises -: These are special military training activities that Taiwan’s armed forces do to practice and improve their skills.
contingency plans -: These are backup plans made to deal with unexpected events, like bad weather during the exercises.
live broadcasts -: This means showing events on TV or the internet as they happen in real-time.
live-fire drills -: These are training exercises where soldiers use real weapons and ammunition to practice.
combat readiness -: This means being fully prepared and able to fight if needed.
