Taiwan has tested how armored units would continue operating after a chemical attack during the fifth day of the annual Han Kuang exercise.
Taiwan’s military has tested how armored units would continue operating after a chemical attack during the fifth day of the annual Han Kuang exercise, Taiwan News reported.
The scenario involved troops from the eastern Hualien-Taitung combat zone preparing to reinforce another region when infiltrators released a simulated chemical agent.
Contamination forced M60A3 tanks and CM21 armored personnel carriers to divert from their planned route and pass through a field decontamination station.
Personnel also practiced treating simulated casualties and chemical decontamination of soldiers.
Chemical warfare units established the decontamination site in about 30 minutes.
Each vehicle passed through a multistage decontamination process, beginning with the detection and marking of contaminated areas.
Crews then cleaned the chassis and tracks, washed the vehicle with hot water, applied neutralizing chemicals, rinsed the equipment, and conducted a final inspection.
The process took less than 10 minutes per vehicle and was intended to determine whether contaminated equipment could be safely returned to operations without contaminating personnel or other units.
Preparing for an Invasion
Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang drills prepare troops and civilians for a potential attack amid near-daily deployments of Chinese military aircraft, warships, and coast guard vessels around the island.
Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan, a position Taipei rejects.
This year's Han Kuang drills are examining how the island would continue operating during a prolonged conflict.
Under those conditions, Taiwan will test whether defense production can continue if key facilities are damaged.
The exercise includes plans to move production from the military’s 202nd Arsenal in Taipei and mobilize civilian factories to manufacture defense equipment during an emergency.
Taiwan is also preparing for the possibility of a blockade that could restrict deliveries of energy and other essential supplies.
Navy and coast guard units will conduct live-fire drills, patrol shipping routes, and escort vessels carrying critical goods.
