Han Kuang Exercise Concludes After 10 Days and 9 Nights: Koo Says Strengthening Readiness Deters War

The 'Han Kuang 42' live-fire exercise concluded successfully on the 14th after 10 days and 9 nights of realistic combat drills. Defense Minister Koo Li-hsiung commended all participating service members for their round-the-clock dedication, noting that despite various unexpected scenarios, weather conditions, and terrain challenges, all units completed their missions as directed, demonstrating the results of rigorous daily training.

Koo delivered a morale speech at the Bo'ai Military Camp on the morning of the 14th, officially concluding the exercise. Chief of the General Staff General Mei Chia-shu, commanders of the three military branches, and operational area commanders were all in attendance. Koo first expressed sincere gratitude and high recognition to all participants, reviewing the past 10 days of drills, including combat readiness deployment, troop mobility, reserve mobilization, joint operations, fire coordination, and logistical support. He instructed all commanding officers to convey respect and commendation to every participating soldier and to ensure full post-exercise recovery and reorganization.

Koo noted that this year’s exercise continued the 'scriptless' approach, with all levels of command centers fully activated for the first time, issuing orders dynamically based on simulated enemy movements. Despite the high-intensity training and frequent troop movements, all units maintained strict risk control and safety discipline. Additionally, decentralized operations, intelligence sharing, integrated firepower, and emerging capabilities such as unmanned vehicles, anti-drone systems, and battlefield awareness kits were progressively incorporated into the drills.

Going forward, Koo stressed the need to align force structure, tactics, and troop deployment with joint operational plans and actual combat requirements, especially as new capabilities are acquired. This will enhance mobility, dispersion, survivability, and sustained combat effectiveness, ensuring emerging technologies are truly transformed into operational strength.

Koo emphasized that even the most advanced weapons require well-trained personnel to operate them, and even the most sophisticated technologies demand skilled officers and troops to apply them flexibly. It is the dedication of every service member that turns equipment into combat power and plans into action.

'Exercise over, real improvement begins,' Koo said, urging commanders at all levels to preserve best practices and honestly address, pragmatically review, and actively resolve issues identified during the drills. Strengthening combat readiness is not about pursuing war, but about deterring it through solid capabilities. 'Protecting peace with strength, defending our homeland through action' is not a slogan, but the mission the military is committed to achieving.