2025/07/18
Ministry of National Defense Press Release
Time: 1700 hours, July 18, 2025
Minister Koo Announces Conclusion of Han Kuang Exercise, Commends Personnel for Ten Days and Nine Nights of Dedicated Effort
“The Han Kuang 41 Exercise live-fire drills have concluded. Thank you all for your hard work!” Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo held a video conference today, formally announcing the successful completion of the Han Kuang 41 Exercise live-fire drills, and highly commending all personnel for their steadfast resolve and high morale in facing high-intensity, extended training.
Reflecting on the entire exercise, Minister Koo first noted that the exercise commenced during the impact of Typhoon Danas on Taiwan, which not only affected troop preparations but also caused significant disasters in the central and southern regions, rarely seen in recent years. The Fourth and Fifth Operational Zones promptly mobilized forces to support local post-disaster recovery, assisting residents in restoring their homes while simultaneously completing exercise tasks, serving as an exemplary model of integrated military-civilian unity in safeguarding communities.
Regarding the validation of reserve mobilization capabilities, Minister Koo mentioned that the 206th Infantry Brigade conducted a full-brigade mobilization effectiveness assessment during the exercise, reviewing the time required to restore reserve combat strength through comprehensive pre-combat training procedures. Relevant authorities should thoroughly analyze the execution outcomes to develop improvement measures, establish standardized training practices, and effectively support standing forces to enhance overall defense capabilities.
On the topic of new weaponry, Minister Koo stated that with the ROC Armed Forces’ recent acquisition of HIMARS systems, land-based Sky Sword II missiles, TOW 2B missiles, and various drones, along with ongoing enhancements to organizational functions, this exercise fully integrated these assets, establishing a multi-layered, in-depth defense system. This clearly conveyed to the international community the ROC Armed Forces’ determination to protect the homeland and defend every inch of territory.
Minister Koo emphasized that true deterrence lies not only in the new weaponry itself but also in the ROC Armed Forces’ demonstrated commitment to reform, unity, and overcoming adversaries. The ROC Armed Forces do not seek to engage in military competition but aim to make it clear to adversaries that any reckless incursion into Taiwan will come at a heavy cost for their misguided decisions and will fail to achieve operational objectives.
Minister Koo further stated that since February, the ROC Armed Forces have conducted multiple joint combat exercises to create realistic battlefield scenarios, assessing commanders’ on-the-spot decision-making capabilities, staff planning measures, and the execution effectiveness of joint operations between supporting and supported units. To maintain a “high state of combat readiness,” all exercises must implement post-training review mechanisms to continuously improve and enhance preparedness effectiveness.
Minister Koo noted that this exercise strengthened training in gray-zone response and force and firepower deployment in depth areas, with units frequently maneuvering through urban streets in highly realistic training scenarios, which also increased the risk of operational accidents throughout the exercise. This serves as a critical opportunity for all levels of leadership to review risk management measures.
Finally, Minister Koo once again expressed appreciation to all participating personnel, thanking them for their dedication during the exercise and formally announcing the conclusion of the Han Kuang 41 Exercise live-fire drills.