Taiwan launches longest-ever military drills as China increases pressure: A lesson from Ukraine?

A soldier takes part in a training session during Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercise next to Patriot missile systems in Taipei on July 11, 2025. (Photo by I-Hwa Cheng / AFP)

Amid mounting tensions with Beijing, Taiwan has begun its longest-ever military exercise, drawing direct inspiration from Ukraine’s resistance against Russian invasion. The 10-day-long live-fire Han Kuang drills, which kicked off earlier this week, are Taiwan’s most ambitious war-preparedness exercise yet, featuring a mix of new weaponry, real-time scenarios, and strategic signals aimed squarely at China’s growing belligerence.

As China ramps up harassment of Taiwanese ships and expands its military presence near the island, Taiwan's Ministry of Defence has made clear the drills are intended to guard against Beijing’s expansionist behaviour.

"The drills began with exercises to counter the actions of Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia ships that have been harassing Taiwanese ships around offshore island groups close to the Chinese coast," the Defence Ministry said.

These Chinese forces, including so-called "maritime militia" vessels, have been involved in grey-zone tactics – harassment that doesn’t cross into outright warfare but still pressures Taiwan’s sovereignty. Analysts warn that such actions could serve as cover for an eventual invasion.

“Concerns are that China could launch an invasion under the guise of petty harassment, and the drills will include fortifying ports and possible Chinese landing points on an island lying 160 kilometres (100 miles) off the Chinese coast.”

The Han Kuang exercises have undergone a noticeable transformation this year. Taiwan is openly incorporating lessons from Ukraine’s war with Russia, particularly in areas such as decentralised command, hybrid warfare preparedness, and civil defence mobilisation.

“Taiwan is systematically incorporating key lessons from Ukraine’s defence, such as decentralised command, civil preparedness, and countering hybrid warfare, into its largest-ever military drills.”

“The country’s military leadership openly acknowledges that the Han Kuang drills are shaped by lessons from Ukraine’s resistance to Russia, focusing on realistic combat scenarios and the vulnerabilities exposed in that conflict.”

This includes a major focus on decentralising command structures and protecting communications infrastructure, mimicking how Ukraine has maintained coordination despite Russian cyberattacks and missile barrages.

Taiwan has also stepped up its civilian preparedness efforts, mirroring Ukraine’s actions to protect its population from large-scale attacks.

“Taiwan is enhancing air-raid shelters, issuing new civil defence guidance, and running public air defence exercises, steps modelled after Ukraine’s approach to protecting civilians during large-scale attacks.”

Just as hybrid warfare has played a central role in Ukraine, Taiwan is preparing to counter ‘grey-zone’ tactics – ambiguous aggression that blurs the lines between war and peace.

“Countering ‘grey zone’ tactics is being seen as an important part of modern warfare. Taiwan’s exercises have begun with countermeasures against Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia harassment, mirroring the hybrid warfare and ambiguous aggression seen in Ukraine.”

Notably, Taiwan has deployed US-supplied Abrams tanks and HIMARS rocket systems, weapons that have proven effective in Ukraine’s hands.

The Han Kuang drills include live simulations of a full-scale Chinese invasion, with round-the-clock, live-fire operations, anti-landing exercises, and the mobilisation of 22,000 reservists—the largest deployment of its kind to date.

“During the drills, Taiwan will recreate invasion scenarios through live simulations. It includes round-the-clock, live-fire operations, anti-landing exercises, and the mobilisation of 22,000 reservists, the largest number to date, to test readiness for a full-scale invasion.”

In tandem with these operations, Taiwan is rolling out public messaging systems and campaigns to combat disinformation, acknowledging the psychological warfare challenges that Ukraine continues to battle.

“The country is also preparing its citizens for a possible war scenario. It’s devising public messaging systems and fighting misinformation. Authorities are warning citizens about potential disruptions and urging vigilance against disinformation, a challenge Ukraine has faced throughout the conflict.”

While Taiwan insists these drills are defensive in nature, their scale, visibility, and duration also serve a dual purpose: deterrence. Much like Ukraine’s unexpectedly resilient defence, Taipei wants Beijing to understand that a military conflict would not be as easy, or predictable, as once thought.