Taiwan launches major war games to test command flexibility

Taiwan began major military drills on Wednesday ​to test commanders' ability to fight on the fly when enemy movements defy expectations, while temporarily limiting internet access ‌for the first time, senior Taiwan officials said.

The 10-day annual Han Kuang exercise began early in the morning after an underground command centre in Taipei issued the drill order, triggering combat-readiness moves that will include fighter jet dispersals and emergency naval deployments, two senior Taiwan officials briefed on the matter told Reuters.

Taiwan will ​also incorporate for the first time a so-called "backbrief" approach modelled on U.S. military practice, in which junior officers receiving orders ​restate mission details to commanders — a move aimed at improving coordination, the officials added, requesting anonymity due ⁠to the sensitivity of the matter.

The move, one of the officials said, is to "ensure commanders and subordinates are in sync on operational ​intent."

The drill will also focus on a key wartime concern: that China, which claims Taiwan as its own despite the island's objections, would ​try to paralyse command centres, ports, logistics and defence industry sites early in an attack.