Taiwan kicks off annual military exercises as China rattles sabers

Tsai to board warship during drills that 'draw on experience' of Ukraine war

Soldiers prepare military tanks at a factory lot in New Taipei City, Taiwan, for the annual Han Kuang military exercises on July 21. © Reuters

THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer

July 25, 2022 14:58 JST

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's air, naval and land forces kicked off a week of military drills on Monday, including exercises that simulate a Chinese invasion.

For the first time since taking office in 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen will board a warship on Tuesday to view an exercise involving around 20 vessels and several air force jet fighters off Suao naval base in the island's northeast, according to the defense ministry.