In a show of readiness, Taiwan’s military has launched its annual urban training exercise, codenamed “Chang Tai 19.”
The exercise involves Taiwan’s Army 586th Armored Brigade and 333rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, deploying forces across central Taiwan, in areas spanning from Miaoli in the north to Kaohsiung in the south.
The multi-day exercise kicked off with a pre-dawn mobilization on Sunday evening, with tanks and military vehicles moving northward from Fengshan.
This year’s training scenario emphasizes night maneuvers and high-speed deployments, testing the brigades’ ability to travel over 100 kilometers on short notice. Residents across central Taiwan reported witnessing long convoys of military vehicles, including combat tanks, navigating main roads. Many onlookers expressed a mix of awe and curiosity. “It’s quite a sight — we rarely see this many tanks on city streets,” one resident noted.
The military exercise, expected to span seven days and six nights, serves as a test of Taiwan’s readiness in urban environments, a key aspect of Taiwan’s defense strategy. In addition to movement and logistics, the training includes simulations of vehicle breakdowns and rapid battlefield repairs, a scenario that played out publicly as a tank marked with a “breakdown” sign was seen halted on a Kaohsiung street. Military officials later clarified that this was part of an exercise component aimed at assessing the response of repair units under combat conditions.
Taiwan’s “ChangTai” (長泰) military exercises have begun.
Military vehicles and tanks from the 333 Mechanized Infantry Brigade were spotted leaving a base in southern Kaohsiung.
They are headed north to face off against the 586 Armored Brigade. The drills will last 5 days. pic.twitter.com/lKWQnhROPn
— Jaime Ocon 歐海美 (@JaimeOcon1) October 28, 2024
The drill comes amid rising regional tensions and highlights Taiwan’s ongoing investment in its ground defense capabilities. As the exercises continue, military analysts note the importance of urban and rapid-response training as a core focus for Taiwan’s defense in light of modern threats.