Latest news with #M1A2TAbrams
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan live-streams Han Kuang navy mine deployment as troops test metro tactics
Taiwan's navy on Monday live-streamed a minelaying drill to showcase its determination to block and delay a potential amphibious assault by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The display was part of this year's annual Han Kuang military exercise aimed at strengthening combat readiness for a potential cross-strait conflict. The drill, held off the Zuoying naval base in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, coincided with a separate urban warfare exercise in which military police armed with Stinger missiles carried out an underground redeployment – using the Taipei metro system before dawn to transport troops, ammunition and supplies under simulated air strike threats. Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te (centre) oversees a naval minelaying drill on Monday. Photo: AFP Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te oversaw the navy drill, which, like last week's M1A2T Abrams tank live-fire training, was broadcast live for the first time to boost public confidence and showcase operational readiness Monday's demonstration featured fast minelaying boats and LCU-406 landing craft, operating under the protection of amphibious reconnaissance units. Troops deployed Taiwan-made Wan Xiang-series naval mines, including moored and bottom types designed to damage or deter both enemy surface ships and submarines. Play Describing the mines as 'oceanic roadblocks', a minelaying officer said they were cost-effective and hard to remove – a classic asymmetric weapon capable of disrupting PLA landing operations.
South China Morning Post
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan holds largest and longest-ever annual military exercise
Read more: Taiwan's military has live-streamed drills featuring live-fire operations using its new M1A2T Abrams tanks on the second day of its largest and longest-ever annual military exercise. The 41st edition of the Han Kuang exercise marks a significant departure from previous years, both in scale and duration. The 10-day, round-the-clock war game, which started on July 9, 2025, is designed to reflect a more realistic and protracted cross-strait conflict scenario.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Taiwan shows off first US Abrams tanks at largest war games
Taiwan's army on Thursday displayed the fire power of its first US-sourced M1A2T Abrams tanks – a traditional weapon that analysts say will need to be increasingly protected against drones in any future battle given lessons from the Ukraine war. Four Abrams tanks were shown manoeuvring across a mud-choked army training ground in Hsinchu county, firing at moving and static targets, on the second day of Taiwan's annual military exercises that are designed to test the island's resilience in a conflict with China. Wearing a combat helmet, president Lai Ching-te observed the firing, saying later that with "every increase in the military's combat power, the nation and its people gain an extra layer of security". "Whether in terms of strike capability or mobility, it was extremely powerful and undoubtedly the strongest tank on the battlefield," Mr Lai said. Senior military officials in Lai's government say they intend the comprehensive 10-day drills to show both China and the international community, including its key weapons supplier the U.S., that Taiwan is determined to defend itself against any China attack or invasion. China views the democratically governed island as its own and has intensified military pressure around Taiwan over the last five years. Mr Lai's comments also come ahead of a recall parliamentary election on 26 July that could see his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) take back control of the legislature. The tanks are among the first batch of 38 Abrams main battle tanks delivered in December, with the rest of the 108 ordered by Taiwan due to be delivered later this year and next year. They marked Taiwan's first new tanks for 24 years. Analysts and regional military attaches say that while the Abrams remains a potent and highly adaptable weapon that would help Taiwan defend its cities and coasts in an invasion scenario, Taiwan will have to leverage its counter-drone technology to protect them. Both Russian and Ukrainian tanks, including US Abrams supplied to Kyiv, have reportedly proven vulnerable to drones and advanced anti-tank weapons. The tanks have yet to be fully commissioned and Wednesday's test firing was not a formal part of the Han Kuang drills, which are designed to replicate full battle conditions at sea, on land and in the skies, military officials said. Major General Chou Kuang-i, who heads the 584th armour brigade, said he expected the tanks to be in service later this year and deployed to combat zones according to "the current enemy threat and the tactical needs". Singapore-based military scholar Thomas Lim said he expected Taiwan would attempt in a war scenario to cover their "prized assets" with counter drone elements, or also deploy them from high positions for extra protection. "This isn't it isn't a problem unique to Abrams," said Mr Lim, of Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. President Lai said that he believed that through "realistic combat training", the M1A2T tank will "be able to integrate with drones and innovative tactics to more effectively fulfill the nation's strategic objectives". China's defence ministry on Tuesday said that Taiwan's drills were "nothing but a bluff". Alongside the military drills Taiwan authorities are holding civil defence rehearsals to test public reactions and build resilience. Local supermarket chain PX Mart held evacuation drills in three stores on Thursday, with shoppers escorted into basements as air raid sirens sounded. Deputy secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, Lin Fei-fan, said the drill is a reminder that both government and civil society must be prepared for 'every kind of situation', citing the challenges and risk facing the island.
Free Malaysia Today
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Taiwan shows off new US tanks amid annual war games
Four Abrams tanks were seen manoeuvring across a mud-choked army training ground in Hsinchu County today. (AP pic) TAIPEI : Taiwan's army today displayed the fire power of its first US-sourced M1A2T Abrams tanks – a traditional weapon that analysts say will need to be increasingly protected against drones in any future battle given lessons from the Ukraine war. Four Abrams tanks were shown manoeuvring across a mud-choked army training ground in Hsinchu County, firing at both moving and static targets, on the second day of Taiwan's annual military exercises, which are designed to test the island's resilience in a conflict with China. Wearing a combat helmet, president Lai Ching-te observed the firing, saying later that with 'every increase in the military's combat power, the nation and its people gain an extra layer of security'. 'Whether in terms of strike capability or mobility, it was extremely powerful – undoubtedly the strongest tank on the battlefield,' Lai said. Senior military officials in Lai's government say they intend the comprehensive 10-day drills to show both China and the international community, including its key weapons supplier the US, that Taiwan is determined to defend itself against any China attack or invasion. China views the democratically governed island as its own and has intensified military pressure around Taiwan over the last five years. Lai's comments also come ahead of a recall parliamentary election on July 26 that could see his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) take back control of the legislature. The tanks are among the first batch of 38 Abrams main battle tanks delivered in December, with the rest of the 108 ordered by Taiwan due to be delivered later this year and next year. They marked Taiwan's first new tanks for 24 years. Analysts and regional military attaches say that while the Abrams remains a potent and highly adaptable weapon that would help Taiwan defend its cities and coasts in an invasion scenario, Taiwan will have to leverage its counter-drone technology to protect them. Both Russian and Ukrainian tanks, including US Abrams supplied to Kyiv, have reportedly proven vulnerable to drones and advanced anti-tank weapons. The tanks have yet to be fully commissioned and yesterday's test firing was not a formal part of the Han Kuang drills, which are designed to replicate full battle conditions at sea, on land and in the skies, military officials said. Major-general Chou Kuang-i, who heads the 584th armour brigade, said he expected the tanks to be in service later this year and deployed to combat zones according to 'the current enemy threat and the tactical needs'. Singapore-based military scholar Thomas Lim said he expected Taiwan would attempt in a war scenario to cover their 'prized assets' with counter drone elements, or also deploy them from high positions for extra protection. 'This isn't straightforward… but it isn't a problem unique to Abrams,' said Lim, of Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. President Lai said that he believed that through 'realistic combat training', the M1A2T tank will 'be able to integrate with drones and innovative tactics to more effectively fulfil the nation's strategic objectives'. China's defence ministry on Tuesday said that Taiwan's drills were 'nothing but a bluff'.
South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan debuts US-made Abrams tanks during live-fire drills as PLA flexes muscles
Taiwan's military has live-streamed live-fire drills featuring its new M1A2T Abrams tanks in a show of force aimed at boosting public morale and highlighting combat readiness amid rising tensions with Beijing. The high-profile display on Thursday came just as mainland China ramped up its own military signalling across the Taiwan Strait. State broadcaster CCTV aired back-to-back footage of amphibious assault and reconnaissance drills conducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the coastal province of Fujian, directly across the strait from Taiwan. The timing of the parallel manoeuvres underscored the escalating rivalry, with both sides flexing their military muscles and engaging in psychological signalling. The firepower demonstration in Taiwan on Thursday marked the official debut of the US-made tanks – touted as the world's most powerful – after more than six months of integration and training. Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te oversaw the drills at a new army tank training ground in Hsinchu in northern Taiwan. He praised both the tank crews and the weapon system's battlefield capabilities. 'These tanks live up to their reputation as the most powerful on earth,' Lai said, adding that they would play a key role in Taiwan's evolving defence strategy alongside drones and other modern tactics.
