Taiwan’s military conducted a coastal defense exercise simulating the repulsion of a Chinese amphibious assault, integrating shore-launched missiles, attack drones, and fast missile-armed patrol boats, Reuters reported.
The drill took place at a beach within the Zuoying naval base in southern Kaohsiung and tested coordinated responses to an unidentified vessel detected offshore, with drones deployed for reconnaissance before joint strikes from sea and land.
During the exercise, Taiwanese forces used armed drones, sniper teams, and mobile launchers firing domestically produced Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles.
A Taiwanese military official said the exercise demonstrated the ability to build an effective “kill chain” and carry out coordinated near-shore interceptions, Reuters reported.
“This demonstrated the Navy’s multi-layered, multi-wave defensive combat effectiveness, as well as the Marine Corps’ combat power and resilience in rapidly taking control from both the sea and the land,” the official told the news agency.
Rising Tensions
The exercise comes amid rising regional tensions.
Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control, a stance firmly rejected by Taipei.
The initiative forms part of Taiwan’s broader defense modernization drive, aimed at more realistic combat training.
It also follows the government’s proposal for a $40-billion defense budget featuring US-made systems and expanded joint production with Washington.
These moves come after large-scale Chinese military drills around Taiwan late last year, which included scenarios simulating a blockade of the island’s key ports.
