HONG KONG, April 10. /TASS/. The Taiwanese armed forces will conduct their annual Han Kuang exercises to practice breaking a blockade of the island, the Taipei Times newspaper writes, citing Tung Chih-hsing, head of the Defense Ministry’s joint combat planning department.

According to the plan, the Taiwanese military will practice responding to a simulated enemy’s drills suddenly turning into an operation to establish a blockade of the island. In order to unblock Taiwan’s communications with the outside world, the armed forces will use aircraft, warships, coastal-based missile systems and drones. The lessons of the conflict in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip will be integrated into the drills, Tung said.

Tabletop exercises involving the US-built Joint Theater Level Simulation platform will take place on April 19-26, while actual combat drills are set to be held on July 22-26.

The Han Kuang exercises involving all types of Taiwan’s armed forces have been taking place since 1984.

Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the remaining Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island after being defeated in China’s civil war. Beijing regards the island as one of its provinces and this position is supported by most countries, including Russia.