Taiwan's defense ministry and armed forces entered the eighth day [1] of the Han Kuang 2026 [2] military exercises this Wednesday.
The drills signal a strategic shift in how the island prepares for a potential invasion. Rather than focusing solely on repelling an initial amphibious assault, the military is now training for a multilayered defense that can sustain combat across the island.
This current phase of the exercise focuses on "deep defense and protracted combat" [1]. The training emphasizes urban-centric resistance, specifically targeting the areas around Taipei [1]. By practicing these scenarios, the armed forces aim to establish a defense-in-depth strategy that allows for continued resistance even after an enemy has established a foothold.
The exercises are designed to test the coordination of various military branches in a complex urban environment. This approach moves away from traditional beachhead defense to a model where the city itself becomes a series of defensive layers [1].
Officials said the training is necessary to ensure the military can maintain operational capacity during a long-term conflict. The drills involve simulated combat scenarios that require forces to adapt to evolving threats within densely populated areas [1].
“The military is now training for a multilayered defense that can sustain combat across the island.”
The transition toward 'defense in depth' suggests that Taiwan is preparing for the possibility that an initial coastal defense may be breached. By focusing on protracted urban combat in the Taipei region, the military is signaling a strategy of attrition designed to make an occupation costly and difficult for an invading force.
