Taiwan’s military began a five-day "Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise" on June 22, lasting through June 26, 2026, to improve joint command and battlefield preparedness during crisis transitions [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The drills focus on realistic, unscripted scenarios simulating a sudden shift from peacetime to wartime. The Ministry of National Defense said the aim is to train units to "become familiar with combat practices and the battlefield environment during the readiness deployment phase, and to strengthen rapid peacetime-to-wartime transition and priority deployment actions" [1].

The exercise uses actual troops, terrain, equipment, and real-time implementation to ensure practical readiness. Forces occupied tactical positions, protected key infrastructure, and tested command-control and logistical support systems. Armored vehicles such as Clouded Leopard 8-wheeled units were deployed on highways on the drill’s first day [4, 6].

Taiwan bases some training scenarios on potential Chinese escalations, specifically modeling responses to an attack following Chinese military exercises around Taiwan [1, 2, 5]. These drills are part of Taiwan’s annual joint operations and military modernization plan [1, 2, 5].

The week before the drills started, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported 21 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters, KJ-500 AWACS, and Y-20 refueling planes, operating near Taiwan. Nineteen entered the southwestern airspace and Western Pacific for extended training on June 21. Taiwan responded with appropriate military deployments to monitor and deter the Chinese forces [1, 2, 5, 6].

On June 22, the defense ministry detected 23 Chinese aircraft sorties along with seven naval vessels and five official ships near the island [6]. A ministry spokesperson stated, "Taiwan's military will respond appropriately to Chinese military activities near the island" [2]. Analysts note that the People's Liberation Army’s increased air and naval operations have blurred the line between peacetime and wartime, leaving Taiwan with less time to react to crises [4].

Taiwan regularly conducts military exercises, including firing US-made HIMARS rocket systems earlier this month into the Taiwan Strait. The main annual Han Kuang war games are planned for August 2026 [1, 2, 5]. The current drill will conclude on June 26.