2023/05/01
The Ministry of National Defense issues a press release explaining the response to the coverage that "Han Kuang Exercises of the Armed Forces "included the evacuation of foreign civilians" for the first time upon request of the US" (May 1, 2023)
Press release of the Ministry of National Defense
Time: May 1, 2023 at 10:30
In response to media reports that "Han Kuang Exercises of the Armed Forces "included the evacuation of foreign civilians" for the first time upon request of the US", the Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated that the evacuation of foreign civilians and opening of air safety corridors covered by the media were not the subjects of the exercise, and media reports were inconsistent with the facts.
The MND stated that the Armed Forces, based on the defense concept of "resisting enemy on the other shore, striking the enemy at sea, destroying the enemy on the beaches, and annihilating the enemy", makes use of Han Kuan Exercises and other drills to verify its implementation of joint defense operations and combat power to repeatedly block and prevent the enemy's advances. The context of the scenario is designed and developed based on the annual possible invasion operations against Taiwan by the CCP to practice joint command mechanisms and defense operation of troops from the three armed forces. As for the action plans that other countries may take that were covered in media reports, they are not the subjects of such exercises, and therefore the media reports are not consistent with the facts.