Full Breakdown
Taiwan Begins Five-Day Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise Amid Heightened Chinese Pressure
6/24/2026, 11:43:32 PM
Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise: Objectives and Scope
From 22 June to 26 June 2026, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense launched a five-day “Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise.” The drill tests rapid deployment, real-time live-fire, and on-site operations across the island, simulating a sudden escalation of Chinese grey-zone activity into full-scale attack.
Background: Grey-Zone Tensions and Drill Origins
China’s People’s Liberation Army conducts daily patrols, drone flights, and naval sorties that fall short of open war but aim to coerce Taiwan. In response, Defence Minister Wellington Koo introduced the Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise in March 2025 to counter such harassment and to shorten the warning time for any attack.
Key Figures and Units
- Wellington Koo – Defence Minister, architect of the drill.
- Lai Ching-te – President, pushing a defence-spending target of 5 % of GDP by 2030.
- 269th Mechanised Infantry Brigade – Operated CM32, CM33 and CM34 “Clouded Leopard” eight-wheeled armoured vehicles.
- Hai Feng Missile Brigade – Deployed Hsiung Feng II and III anti-ship missiles on the Hengchun Peninsula.
- Su Tzu-yun – Research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, highlighted the strategic importance of the Qingpu defensive line.
Timeline of the Exercise (22-26 June)
- 22 June – Combat units moved to defensive positions; tanks and armoured vehicles patrolled Taoyuan’s Provincial Highway 31.
- 23 June – Missile units conducted live-fire drills on the Hengchun Peninsula.
- 24 June – Defence Minister Koo reiterated the need to verify immediate response capability.
- 25 June – Joint command-control and logistical sustainment scenarios were rehearsed.
- 26 June – Exercise concluded with after-action reviews.
Data & Statistics
- Chinese activity: Taiwan’s defence ministry reported 21 aircraft (including J-16 fighters, KJ-500 AEW&C, Y-20 tankers) and 23 aircraft in separate statements, plus seven navy ships and five other vessels.
- Taiwan assets: 269th Brigade’s Clouded Leopard fleet; Hai Feng Brigade’s Hsiung Feng II/III missiles; field information communications system (FICS) vehicle.
Official Statements & Responses
Taiwan’s defence ministry described the drill as “realistic” and aimed at “strengthening rapid peacetime-to-wartime transitions.” President Lai urged senior generals to lead force transformation with innovative thinking. U.S. top diplomat Raymond Greene affirmed Washington’s commitment to regional deterrence and the first-island-chain status quo. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han condemned the drills as evidence of the DPP’s “malicious intent to seek independence by force” and reiterated Beijing’s refusal to renounce the use of force.
Criticism & Opposition
Zhang Han’s statement framed the exercises as provocative, arguing that DPP posturing would “only harm and destroy Taiwan.” The Chinese position underscores the diplomatic dispute over Taiwan’s sovereignty and the legitimacy of its defence preparations.
On-the-Ground Reports
In Taoyuan, tanks rolled down city streets near the international airport, while Clouded Leopard vehicles traversed Qingpu, a hub linking the high-speed rail, Airport MRT, and National Freeway 2. Observers on the Hengchun Peninsula noted the rapid deployment of “carrier-killer” anti-ship missiles.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of Chinese aircraft detected (21 vs. 23) and provide no official comment from Beijing. Details on the specific timing of Chinese naval movements remain unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is intended to build the speed we believe is necessary for converting from peacetime to wartime status,” — Wellington Koo, Defence Minister
- “In other words, given the current threat situation from the enemy, and as we believe the warning time is shortening, we need to verify that we can respond immediately.” — Wellington Koo
- “malicious intent to seek independence by force” — Zhang Han, spokesperson, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office
- “In line with the U.S. national security strategy, we aim to work alongside regional allies to maintain the status quo of the first island chain and prevent any attempts to take Taiwan by force,” — Raymond Greene, top U.S. diplomat in Taipei
- “I ask all senior generals to lead force transformation with innovative thinking,” — Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan
- “CNA photo June 22, 2026 Su Tzu-yun (???), a research fellow at Taiwan's government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told CNA that a defensive line in the Qingpu area is critical to the defense of northern Taiwan and preventing enemy forces from advancing into the Greater Taipei area, where key political and economic centers are located.” — Su Tzu-yun, Institute for National Defense and Security Research
What’s Next
Taiwan’s major Han Kuang war games are scheduled for August 2026, and the government continues to pursue a defence-budget increase to 5 % of GDP. The United States is reviewing a proposed $14 billion arms package, while Chinese military activity around the island is expected to persist throughout the summer.
