Taiwan’s armed forces conducted a major coastal defense exercise on Tuesday, practicing tactics to repel a simulated Chinese amphibious invasion along the island’s western shoreline.
The military exercise took place at eight different locations spanning a 12-mile coastal area near Taichung in central Taiwan, with forces deploying rockets and artillery to create what officials termed a “kill zone” against potential amphibious attackers.
Beijing considers the democratically-ruled island part of its territory and has not ruled out military action to gain control of Taiwan. Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels conduct operations near the island on an almost daily basis.
Military strategists consider Taiwan’s western beaches and tidal flats, which directly face mainland China across the Taiwan Strait, as the most probable sites for any attempted Chinese military landing.
Taiwan’s defense forces are undergoing modernization efforts, incorporating new mobile weaponry while making their exercises less predictable and more closely aligned with actual combat conditions.
Artillery commander Ong Yih-ming explained to media that the training approach has evolved significantly.
“What is different about this training compared with the past is that we are no longer conducting heavy artillery firing in a fixed, routine formation as before,” he said.
“The timing for entering positions this time was based on realistic combat conditions. So I believe this training posed a considerable level of difficulty for our troops.”
The exercise utilized Taiwan-made Thunderbolt-2000 rocket systems mounted on trucks, American-manufactured Paladin howitzers, anti-tank missiles, artillery pieces, and mortars to establish defensive positions.
Military officials noted this marked the first operational live-fire exercise for the Thunderbolt-2000 system in seven years. The weapon was designed for long-distance suppression capabilities and rapid deployment.
Rocket commander Liao Neng-cheng highlighted another key change in training protocols.
“What was different this time compared with the past is that previously, we would usually enter the position one week in advance and complete firing preparations,” said Liao.
“This time, however, we arrived at the position only one day before and carried out the relevant position preparations. So our preparation time was relatively tight.”
Taiwan’s leadership disputes Beijing’s territorial claims over the island, maintaining that only Taiwan’s citizens have the authority to determine their political future.
