Taiwan Conducts Comprehensive Han Kuang War Games, Simulating Presidential Evacuation and Bridge Defense

During the 10-day Han Kuang exercises, President Lai Ching-te participated in the “Wan Chun” drill that rehearses evacuation of the island’s leadership after a decapitation strike. An armored personnel carrier moved the president and senior staff from the Presidential Office to a fortified command center near the Defense Ministry, where briefings were reviewed and instructions issued. The drill tested command continuity and inter-agency coordination.

CNN

At the same time, troops sealed off the Danjiang Bridge, a nearly kilometre-long cable-stayed bridge over the Tamsui River. Concrete blocks, steel hedgehogs, barbed wire and U.S.–made HESCO bastions created a 13-metre-wide, 200-metre-long blockade divided into three sections. Southbound lanes were closed from 8 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday; northbound traffic and pedestrian paths remained open for onlookers.

Central News Agency (CNA) / Focus Taiwan

Han Kuang, Taiwan’s largest annual drill, originated in the Cold War era when Chiang Kai-shek feared a Chinese Communist attack. The exercises now address modern “gray-zone” tactics and the rise in Chinese air patrols. Beijing continues to claim sovereignty over the island and has not ruled out force.

CNN

• August 5, 2026: Reservists received firearm-handling instruction in Taipei’s suburbs.

CNN

• Early August 2026: Han Kuang drills commenced, marking the 42nd iteration.

Taipei Times

• August 7, 2026: A senior defense official said the drills would no longer be a “lab-like exercise in a vacuum.”

CNN

• August 7, 2026: French-made Mirage fighters were scrambled to demonstrate rapid re-arming.

Reuters

• August 7-8, 2026: Danjiang Bridge blockade installed within four hours and slated for removal in another four.

Central News Agency (CNA) / Focus Taiwan

• Approximately 20,000 reservists mobilized to defend ports, power plants and bridges.

Taipei Times

• The bridge blockade employed 15 concrete blocks, steel hedgehogs, barbed wire and HESCO bastions across a 13 m × 200 m zone.

Central News Agency (CNA) / Focus Taiwan

• Air-defense assets in downtown Taipei included Patriot and Tien-Kung missile systems.

CNN

Presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said the Wan Chun drill ensures government continuity during hostile action. Charles Lyons-Jones of the Lowy Institute linked the drills to recent decapitation strikes in Iran and urged swift preparation. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim highlighted the “whole-of-society defense” concept, noting the integration of military, civilian and political leadership.

CNN

Local residents gathered on the Danjiang Bridge to watch the blockade installation, taking photographs as dump trucks and military vehicles moved equipment onto the southbound lanes. Engineers placed wooden beams beneath concrete blocks to protect the road surface, allowing traffic to resume after the exercise.

Central News Agency (CNA) / Focus Taiwan

The drills show Taiwan’s effort to blend military readiness with civilian infrastructure protection, signaling to Beijing that the island can sustain command continuity and defend key chokepoints. A planned temporary slowdown of mobile internet next week will test civilian communication resilience under bandwidth scarcity.

CNN

Sources agree on the bridge blockade’s structure but differ on the exact timeline for obstacle removal; some cite a four-hour removal window, others note a separate four-hour window without specifying sequencing. Independent verification of the drills’ effectiveness remains limited.

Central News Agency (CNA) / Focus Taiwan