The Republic of China held its largest military exercise ever, simulating the defeat of a seaborne invasion and aerial assault on the island by Chinese infantry and Special Forces.

ROC President Tsai Ing-wen, a vocal critic of China, presided over the fourth day of the multi-service maneuvers that saw live fire drills conducted at the Joint Operations Training Base Command at Pingtung County in southern Taiwan. The drills end Aug. 26.

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The massive five-day exercise is the largest ever in the ROC's history and also included cyberattack and asymmetric warfare drills. It comes at a time of increasingly strained relations with mainland China that keeps piling the pressure on Tsai to take a more pro-Beijing stance, and acknowledge there is only "One China."

The maneuvers are the 32nd edition of the annual Han Kuang military drills that simulate different defense scenarios in the face of a massive Chinese cross-strait attack spearheaded by warships of the People's Liberation Army Navy protecting transports with thousands of invasion troops of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.

Watching some of the 27 live fire drills clad in a camouflage helmet and wearing body armor, President Tsai said her soldiers showed their determination to protect the nation. She said she was united with the Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCAF) in their mission to defend their country against an attack by China.

Tsai, who is also commander-in-chief of the ROCAF, warned her troops of the challenges they face as relations with China deteriorate over the long-festering issue of the ROC's independence. It is Tsai's first inspection of the Han Kuang series of exercises as commander-in-chief.

She said one of the top priorities of ROCAF this year will be to upgrade the individual equipment carried by its soldiers. She noted the troops in the exercise were wearing more modern locally designed digital camouflage uniforms.

"I promise you that the Ministry of National Defense will make it one of its top priorities this year to upgrade individual troop equipment," said Tsai.

Some 1,300 soldiers; F-16 fighter jets; newly-acquired AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters; CM11, CM22 and CM33 armored vehicles;M109A2 self-propelled guns and 21 other types of weapons took part in the maneuvers, said the Ministry of National Defense.

The ministry revealed 8,000 shells were fired during the drill. This was the first time the AH-64E Apache and the UH-60M Black Hawk took part in Han Kuang.

TagsRepublic of China, President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan, Han Kuang military drills, china, Republic of China Armed Forces