IRIA News

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Taiwan’s Defense Ministry announced that its military will begin a five-day combat readiness exercise on June 22, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities and prepare for potential conflict scenarios involving China.

The drill, officially named the “Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise,” will run from June 22 to June 26, 2026. It is part of Taiwan’s annual joint operations training program. The exercise reflects Taipei’s ongoing shift toward more realistic and combat-focused military preparations amid growing security concerns in the Taiwan Strait.

The announcement came as Taiwan reported another surge in Chinese military activity near the island, highlighting persistent tensions between Beijing and Taipei.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the exercise is designed to improve the armed forces’ ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats and strengthen coordination across military branches.

According to the ministry, the main goal is to familiarize units with battlefield conditions during the deployment phase of military operations and improve the military’s ability to transition quickly from peacetime to wartime operations.

The exercise will be conducted using “actual troops, on actual terrain, in real time, using actual equipment,” reflecting Taiwan’s efforts to move away from scripted training events toward more realistic operational scenarios.

Military officials said the drills will focus on enhancing command and control systems, battlefield preparation, logistics support, and joint operational capabilities.

Taiwan has increasingly based its training on scenarios in which China could rapidly transform one of its regular military exercises around the island into an actual military operation. Such concerns have grown as Chinese military activities near Taiwan have become more frequent and complex in recent years.

Chinese Aircraft Operate Near Taiwan

On the same day the exercise was announced, Taiwan reported a new wave of Chinese military aircraft operating near the island.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said 21 Chinese aircraft were detected, including J-16 fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, and Y-20 aerial refueling planes.

According to the ministry, 19 of the aircraft entered airspace southwest of Taiwan and continued into the Western Pacific for what Beijing described as long-distance training over open seas.

Taiwan said it monitored the activity and deployed appropriate forces in response. China has not publicly commented on the latest operations. Beijing regularly conducts military patrols and exercises around Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory.

Growing Military Preparations

The latest exercise is part of a broader effort by Taiwan to modernize its military and strengthen deterrence capabilities.

Earlier this month, Taiwan conducted a live-fire exercise involving its newly acquired U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a precision strike platform that has gained significant attention following its use in Ukraine.

The HIMARS exercise was viewed as an important step in improving Taiwan’s ability to respond to a potential invasion or blockade scenario.

Taiwan has also expanded training focused on rapid mobilization, dispersed operations, and survivability under combat conditions. Military planners have increasingly emphasized readiness for sudden escalation rather than relying solely on large-scale scheduled exercises.

The island’s defense strategy has evolved in response to growing pressure from China, which has increased military flights, naval deployments, and exercises around Taiwan in recent years.

Han Kuang War Games Ahead

Taiwan’s largest annual military exercise, the Han Kuang war games, is also expected to take place in August. The drills are expected to further test the military’s readiness and evaluate its ability to respond to a range of potential threats, including air and maritime incursions, missile strikes, and amphibious operations.

Security analysts view the upcoming exercises as a key indicator of Taiwan’s preparedness, as tensions across the Taiwan Strait remain one of the most sensitive security issues in the Indo-Pacific region.

The latest combat readiness drill underscores Taiwan’s continued focus on strengthening military preparedness while monitoring Chinese activities around the island, as both sides maintain competing claims and increasingly active military postures in the region.