Taiwan Plans Largest Ever Military Drills to Counter Potential Chinese Blockade

Taiwan is planning new military exercises designed to ensure the island maintains access to critical supplies and energy in the event of a blockade by the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The upcoming drills specifically target the risk of an energy blockade, a scenario that Taiwanese officials have considered in light of global precedents, such as the closure of shipping routes by Iran.

Context of the Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis

These preparations occur during a period of heightened tension known as the Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis, which began on August 2, 2022. This ongoing conflict involves the PRC and the Republic of China (Taiwan), with the PRC conducting military exercises that simulate a blockade of the island.

The operational zones for these Chinese military drills have spanned several key maritime areas, including the Taiwan Strait, the Northwest Pacific Ocean, the East China Sea, the Philippine Sea, the Luzon Strait, and the South China Sea.

Current leadership in Taiwan includes President Lai Ching-te and Foreign Minister Wellington Koo, who assumed their roles in 2024. On the PRC side, the leadership includes President Xi Jinping and Minister Zhang Shengmin, who took office in 2025.

Recent Defense Mobilization and Han Kuang Drills

The focus on breaking blockades follows a series of extensive military exercises. On July 9, 2025, Taiwan launched its annual Han Kuang drills, which lasted ten days. These exercises were the longest in the history of the drills and were designed to counter Chinese invasion tactics and gray zone tactics—activities that remain just below the threshold of open warfare.

The 2025 Han Kuang exercises included the following components:

• Live-fire shooting training in Hsinchu County featuring M1A2T Abrams main battle tanks.
• The deployment of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) acquired from the United States.
• The use of new waterborne drones to fortify defenses.
• Simulated anti-landing exercises involving regular forces and 22,000 reservists.
• Operations to counter harassment from the China Coast Guard and maritime militia ships near offshore island groups.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense stated that these drills focused on fortifying ports and potential Chinese landing points on an island located 160 kilometers off the Chinese coast. The exercises were conducted around the clock to simulate realistic conditions and address criticisms that previous drills had been performative.

Strategic Objectives and International Partnerships

The strategic objective of these drills is to protect Taiwan’s de facto independence and its ability to survive a total blockade of energy and critical resources. The PRC maintains that Taiwan is its territory and has stated it may be annexed by force if necessary.

The United States remains Taiwan’s closest partner and primary source of defensive arms, providing the tanks and rocket systems used in recent exercises, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between the two nations due to pressure from Beijing.

The Republic of China’s defense efforts involve a coordinated response from the Republic of China Army, Navy, Air Force, and Military Police, as well as the Coast Guard Administration and the Ocean Affairs Council.

These forces face an opposing structure consisting of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, the PLA Rocket Force, the People’s Armed Police, and the China Coast Guard.