Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-04-23

This year’s Han Kuang Exercises – the military’s largest scale annual drills – are set to

Defense ministry spokesperson Major General Chen Chung-chi speaks about the upcoming Han Kuang military exercises. (CNA file photo)

take place next month. The defense ministry said Sunday that the plan is for President Tsai Ing-wen to preside over the exercises in person beginning on May 25. However, the ministry said that presidential office has yet to approve the itinerary.

As in the past few years, the drills will be divided into two parts: computer-simulated war games and live-fire exercises. The computer war games will take place from May 1-5, while the live-fire portion of the drills will take place from May 22-26.

This year the drills will simulate a potential conflict eight years into the future in 2025. That’s because China is expected to have three aircraft carriers in service by then, as well as stealth fighters and advanced missiles. By that time, Taiwan is hoping to have advanced F-35 fighter jets from the United States.    [FULL  STORY]