A recent war simulation held in June has revealed growing vulnerabilities in Taiwan’s eastern region to strikes from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The exercise, reviewed in Taipei by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation, highlighted the PLA’s enhanced capabilities, including submarines and long-range bombers able to launch cruise missiles targeting eastern Taiwan.
The fortified Chiashan Air Force Base in Hualien County was identified as particularly at risk, with former General Staff Chief Admiral Lee Hsi-ming warning that a precise strike on the base’s cave entrance could disable aircraft housed there.
The simulation indicated that Taiwan’s traditional defense focus on its western shores is no longer sufficient. PLA offensives against Penghu County and eastern Taiwan quickly overwhelmed defenders, who struggled to redeploy reinforcements. Experts playing the role of foreign allies suggested Taiwan strengthen defenses along its northern and eastern fronts.
Taiwan’s navy faces a difficult choice between confronting a Chinese carrier group in the Pacific or conceding control of the Taiwan Strait, both posing risks of isolation. The exercise recommended deploying naval forces closer to eastern Taiwan to work with land-based defenses.
The war games also emphasized the need for clear rules of engagement to counter China’s “gray zone” tactics, as invasion preparations may be disguised as drills, leaving Taiwan’s outlying islands vulnerable.
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