Taiwan Rehearses Beach Defense, Tests Internet Slowdown in Annual War Games

Taiwan’s military carried out a pre-dawn simulation on Monday of repelling a Chinese air landing assault on the Penghu Islands, part of the ongoing 10-day Han Kuang exercise. Soldiers from the First Theatre Command fired tanks, artillery, and anti aircraft weapons on a Penghu beach, forming what officials called a layered defense against a mock coastal invasion. Reservists also joined the drill as part of their training, reflecting efforts to better integrate reserve units into national defense planning.

Penghu Seen as Strategic First Target

Positioned closer to Taiwan’s main island than to mainland China, Penghu is viewed by military strategists as a likely early target should Beijing attempt to seize territory and use it as a launch point for further attacks.

Mobile Internet to Be Slowed for First Time

Later Monday, authorities in central Taiwan will deliberately throttle mobile internet speeds to test emergency communication under limited bandwidth. Essential services like ATMs, traffic signals, and emergency calls will remain unaffected. Taipei will undergo the same test on Thursday.