Crowds gather alongside the runway at the Pingtung military air base as fighter jets prepare for liftoff. Many people brought professional-grade cameras to capture the exciting scene. They're all here to watch Taiwan's Han Kuang military exercises, held from September 13 to September 17.
The annual Han Kuang simulations are Taiwan's largest military exercises. They involve all branches of the armed forces and test Taiwan's ability to fend off potential attacks from China.
Some of the spectators say they rode over 200 kilometers and arrived early in the morning just to get a prime spot for watching the military exercises. They say the Han Kuang exercises are a rare opportunity and too exciting to miss.
Military buffs looked forward to the simulations, conducted on Wednesday because they included some of Taiwan's fighter jets in action. These include Taiwan-made Indigenous Defense Fighters and F-16 Block 20s. These particular exercises serve as practice in case of an attack on the Pingtung military air base in various weather conditions.
For many, it was their first time seeing fighter jets at such close range, as the planes prepared for takeoff from just ten meters in front of them. While they hope Taiwan will never need to fend off a real threat, it's a thrill to witness Taiwan's military strength.