TAIPEI, July 28 (Reuters) - Taiwan will test relocating weapons production lines and converting civilian factories for military use in annual drills next month, the defence ministry said on Tuesday, aiming to sustain combat operations if Chinese attacks hit supply hubs.
The exercise, part of the annual Han Kuang war games from August 5 to 14, will simulate China using routine military drills to conceal preparations for a full invasion of Taiwan, prompting the island's armed forces to immediately raise combat readiness and conduct rapid-response drills.
The drill will test whether Taiwan can disperse industrial production while maintaining output needed to support its armed forces in a conflict, according to the ministry's planning outline.
The focus reflects one of Taiwan's central wartime concerns — that China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own, would seek to paralyse command centres, ports, logistics sites and defence industry facilities early in any attack. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.
The drills assume "Chinese forces use routine annual joint military exercises as cover for large-scale landing training, concealing plans to attack Taiwan while completing final assault preparations," Major General Lu Wen-yuan, head of the Joint Operations Division, told a press briefing.
Lu said the drill will simulate the wartime relocation of the Armaments Bureau's 202nd Arsenal in the capital Taipei and mobilise civilian factories responsible for "whole-system assembly" after an emergency order is issued.
CHINESE COAST GUARD STEPS UP ACTIVITY
The drills will also test Taiwan's ability to keep sea lanes open and protect shipments of critical supplies, Lu said, adding the navy and coast guard will conduct joint drills using live troops, equipment and ammunition for coast guard vessel refits, coastal strikes, maritime law enforcement and escorts for critical supplies.
The drills come as Taiwan reports a sharp rise in Chinese coast guard activity around the island, heightening concern in Taipei that Beijing could escalate pressure off Taiwan's Pacific coast and threaten vital supply routes.
The United States' de facto embassy in Taiwan made a rare public disclosure on Tuesday of coordination between the U.S. and Taiwan coast guards, highlighting maritime security cooperation.
"The United States appreciates Taiwan's partnership in maritime security and safety, and supports Taiwan's meaningful contributions on global issues including maritime law enforcement exchange and international cooperation," the American Institute in Taiwan said in a Facebook post.
An image accompanying the post showed a Taiwan coast guard vessel sailing in formation with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Midgett at an unspecified location.
For the first time, Taiwan will also deliberately slow mobile internet speeds during the 10-day exercise, testing how citizens would communicate if bandwidth became scarce in emergencies ranging from disasters to a Chinese invasion.
(Reporting By Yimou Lee and Yi-chin Lee; Editing by Saad Sayeed and Kate Mayberry)
