TAIPEI, Aug. 13, 2026 — Taiwan’s military conducted an exercise designed to prepare for a potential maritime blockade, deploying naval and coast guard forces to practice escorting a merchant vessel during the island’s annual Han Kuang war games. The Defense Ministry said Thursday that the drill comes as China increases pressure around Taiwan’s surrounding waters.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, while Taipei maintains its own democratically elected government. Taiwanese authorities have repeatedly expressed concern that China could attempt to isolate the island through a blockade or quarantine operation aimed at forcing it to surrender.

Those concerns intensified in June, when China began conducting what it calls “law enforcement” patrols off Taiwan’s eastern coastline. The activity angered Taiwanese officials and raised additional concerns in Washington and other Western capitals.

According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, the anti-blockade exercise incorporated realistic, combat-focused scenarios intended to improve coordination between government agencies and strengthen the island’s ability to protect its maritime routes during a crisis.

Navy and coast guard vessels jointly practiced escort and protective operations. A minesweeper was also used to clear a navigable route and guide the simulated merchant vessel safely toward port, the ministry said.

Taiwan’s coast guard, which would provide support to the navy during a wartime situation, said the exercise was held Wednesday and involved two ports along Taiwan’s eastern coast.

The coast guard said the operation marked the first time it had conducted an anti-blockade exercise jointly with the navy.

The 10-day Han Kuang military exercise began last week and is testing Taiwan’s response to a range of potential scenarios, including a Chinese attempt to capture the island by force. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claim of sovereignty over the island.

On Thursday, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te visited an underground parking facility beneath a hospital in New Taipei, the city bordering Taipei, where authorities had established a temporary emergency medical ward as part of the civil-defense preparations.

Lai was joined by senior foreign diplomats stationed in Taiwan, including the de facto ambassadors representing the United States, Israel and Canada. Taiwan has shown particular interest in Israel’s experience with civil-defense preparedness and emergency response.

Taipei Bridge Defenses Put to the Test

Another portion of the Han Kuang exercise focused Wednesday night on protecting a strategically important bridge leading toward Taipei. Soldiers installed metal barricades, barbed wire and concrete obstacles along roads approaching the bridge, which could become a key target in a potential Chinese assault on the capital.

Chieh Chung, a researcher at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research who observed the exercise, said Taiwan’s defensive strategy in wartime could involve creating multiple layers of obstacles stretching from the bridge toward designated areas where attacking forces could be engaged.

The simulated operation was intended to slow or stop Chinese forces from using the bridge as a rapid route into Taipei.

“I believe the military’s plans would also include demolishing these bridges, if necessary, ensuring that the People’s Liberation Army would not be able to use them to cross the river ​quickly and continue its advance,” Chieh said.

The exercises are part of Taiwan’s broader effort to strengthen military readiness and civil-defense capabilities amid increasing Chinese military and maritime activity around the island.