Taiwan on Wednesday launched its largest annual war games, aimed at preparing its military for a potential attack by Beijing.

This year’s exercise is the longest and largest Han Kuang exercises since the annual war games began in 1984, with roughly 22,000 reservists participating, a 50% increase from last year. 

For the first time, the drills include the U.S.-supplied HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) and Taiwan’s Sky Sword surface-to-air missiles.

🇹🇼 Han Kuang 41 Exercise kicks off today. 💪🫡👊 https://t.co/JvAOj8vmLx pic.twitter.com/3i3XabAPAX

— Taiwan Military (@TaiwanMilitary) July 9, 2025

Reuters reported that the early stages of the exercises will focus on testing how Taiwan’s military can decentralize command in the event of a crippling communications attack. Over the next 10 days, the drills will expand to assess the island’s combat readiness in the face of a full-scale invasion attempt.

“We are learning from the situation in Ukraine in recent years and realistically thinking about what Taiwan might face … in real combat,” a senior defence official told Reuters. 

The drills coincide with heightened tensions between Taiwan and China. On Wednesday morning, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported 31 Chinese aircraft and seven naval vessels near the island, with 24 planes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. 

Beijing, which claims the island as its territory, condemned the ongoing drills. “No matter what weapons are used, Taiwan can’t resist the People’s Liberation Army’s sharp sword,” said Chinese defense spokesperson Jiang Bin.

Meanwhile, when asked about Taiwan’s deployment of HIMARS, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “Our opposition to U.S.-Taiwan military ties is consistent and very firm.”