On islands key to Taiwan's defense, troops prepare for a Chinese first strike
Taipei is expanding drills, drones and missile deployments as officials say 110,000 residents are being trained for wartime resilience.
- Taiwan deployed Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles to Penghu on Friday, August 28, 2026, and established the islands' first drone force in July to counter potential Chinese amphibious landings.
- Located about 50 km off Taiwan's southwest coast, the 90-island Penghu cluster serves as a critical frontline that military experts warn Beijing would target first in any invasion attempt.
- During Han Kuang exercises on August 10, troops practiced repelling landings with tanks and artillery, while roughly 1,200 residents completed the government's "whole-of-society defense resilience" program for emergency support.
- Huxi township chief Chen Chen-chung advises residents to maintain more than half a month's supplies, while taxi driver William Chen pledges, "If my homeland were invaded, there's no way I could just stand by."
- PLA planners suggested they could "strategically suppress" Taiwan by occupying Penghu, yet Ian Easton of the U.S. Naval War College argues the islands are a "tough nut to crack" for any invading force.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Taiwan is strengthening the defense of the Panhu Archipelago, which, in the event of a war with China, could become one of the first targets, training thousands of military personnel on the islands and deploying new weapons.
On islands key to Taiwan's defense, troops prepare for a Chinese first strike
In the pre-dawn darkness on an island in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwanese troops earlier this month pulled long, gleaming 105mm shells from their green plastic canisters. After all the ammunition had been checked and safely loaded through hatches on four tanks, troops waited silently for the order to fire.
The Pescador Islands can be China's first target in an attempt to invade Taiwan, which has led Taipei to strengthen his defense, and the Archipelago, located some 50 kilometres from its south-west coast, is blocking one of the key routes across the Taiwan Strait and is capable of becoming the island's front line of defense.
Taiwan is strengthening its defense of the strategically important Penhu Islands, which Taiwanese military experts estimate could be one of the first targets in the event of China's attempt to invade the island.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
