Four F-16 combat aircraft have participated successfully in the military’s annual Han Kuang exercises. The exercises kicked off Monday. The F-16 fighter jets performed in drills off the coast of eastern Taiwan on Wednesday.
President Ma Ying-jeou was aboard a frigate to inspect the drill. The five-day military exercises focus on anti-submarine, anti-surface vessel, and anti-missile warfare, as well as maritime resupply operations. The drills are part of the second stage of the Han Kuang exercises being held through Sept. 19, which follow computer-aided war games that took place in May.
The Han Kuang exercises are Taiwan’s most important war games. They test the country’s combat readiness and defense capabilities against the military threat from China. China sees Taiwan as a renegade province even though the two sides have been ruled separately for more than 60 years.