Military Drills? That's a Political Stunt

Once a year, the Taiwan authorities stage the same political stunt across the island. They call it the Han Kuang exercise — now in its 42nd iteration. This year's version is said to be the largest ever. But despite its expanded scale, the script has not really changed.

The disruption to ordinary people is significant. Urban resilience drills affect road traffic, food deliveries, and normal business operations. For the first time, the authorities will also deliberately slow mobile internet speeds in parts of the island, leaving residents with reduced connectivity for about 30 minutes.

Military drills? Not really. It's a political stunt: 

·Externally, it serves as a political gesture toward Washington. The Taiwan authorities seek to drag the United States into a potential conflict in pursuit of their secessionist agenda.

·Internally, it serves as a political tool for the DPP. By creating a sense of crisis among the public, the party seeks to consolidate its grip on power.