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Defense News

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.
2025/07/17

Ministry of National Defense Press Release
Time: 1710 hours, July 17, 2025
 

Tri-Service General Hospital Conducts First Evacuation Exercise, Minister Koo Commends Wartime Medical Response Measures

    The Han Kuang 41 Exercise live-fire drills entered their ninth day, and Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo visited Tri-Service General Hospital today (July 17) to inspect the “casualty evacuation” and medical capacity withdrawal exercise, verifying measures related to large-scale hospital evacuation and sustained medical capacity preservation during prolonged combat operations. Participating personnel completed the exercise as planned, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated military-civilian medical systems.

    This morning, Minister Koo, accompanied by Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council Fei-Fan Lin, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Ching-Yi Lin, and other personnel, inspected the live-fire evacuation exercise at Tri-Service General Hospital. Through on-site drills, they reviewed items such as casualty transfer coordination, vehicle dispatch, communication with the Taipei City Joint Response Control Center, road access requests, and counter-intelligence measures, with the process being intense and realistic, striving to align closely with wartime scenarios.

    Minister Koo stated that Tri-Service General Hospital, for the first time in coordination with the Han Kuang Exercise, conducted an evacuation exercise to practically validate how military hospitals can effectively ensure medical capacity and integrate military-civilian resources during wartime. Additionally, through the “After Action Review” (AAR) following the exercise, further improvements to wartime medical measures can be made. After the exercise, Minister Koo presented additional meal allowances, commending the exercise outcomes of units including Tri-Service General Hospital, the National Defense Medical Center, and the Army Third Branch Transportation Group, while expressing appreciation for their dedicated efforts and hard work.
About MND

The ROC Constitution stipulates that the ROC national defense aims to defend the nation's security and safeguard world peace. Under this, the nation's defense concepts, military strategies, military buildup, and objectives are formulated to prevent conflict. The current international situation and changes to the possible threat to the ROC are also taken into consideration in the making of defense policies at the current stage. The basic objectives are "preventing war," "defending the homeland," and "countering terrorism and responding to contingencies." The higher strategic goal is "effective deterrence, resolute defense" with the establishment of a quality self-defensive force capable of counterattack. China, though calling for reunification, has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan. It has not only deployed an increasing number of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan but also staged large-scale military exercises with an overt saber-rattling intent to destabilize Taiwan politically and economically. Moreover, its robust economic expansion in recent years has fueled its defense spending for greater military muscle. In order to maintain Cross-Strait stability and avoid a military imbalance in the Taiwan Strait, the ROC government is calling for the establishment of confidence-building measures (CBMs) and a code of conduct on the one hand, and, on the other hand, has been constructing basic defense forces and counterattack capability to safeguard the territory without engaging in an arms race with the other side.