Amid Rising China Threat, Taiwan War Games To Mimic Combat As Closely As Possible

Elements that were mostly for show, like rehearsal drills, have been cancelled, while this year there will be nighttime exercises.

Taiwan's annual war games this year will be as close as possible to actual combat, no longer just putting on a show to score points but aiming to simulate real fighting given a rapidly rising "enemy threat" from China, a senior official said.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has been staging regular exercises around the island for four years to pressure Taipei to accept Beijing's claim of sovereignty, despite Taiwan's strong objections.

Taiwan starts its five-day Han Kuang exercises on July 22.