TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's military forces conducted intensive live-fire exercises Thursday (July 24) at the Joint Operations Training Base Command in Pingtung (屏東三軍聯訓基地), marking the third consecutive day of large-scale drills. The Army's 586th Brigade joined forces with the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command (航特部) and Air Force fighter jets in a dramatic display of coordinated firepower that filled the training grounds with smoke and the thunder of machine gun fire.
The comprehensive military exercises launched Tuesday used tactical short-range drones for air reconnaissance, and introduced defensive operations for the first time in such drills. Military commanders tested troops' adaptability to rapidly changing battlefield conditions while operating under decentralized command structures. The exercises aimed to enhance combat readiness and strengthen coordination between Taiwan's army, air force, and navy branches.
The military exercises dramatically transformed the night skies above Hengchun township (恆春), where residents witnessed artillery fire and illumination flares piercing the darkness during nighttime training operations. The brilliant flares created battlefield-like scenes that captivated local residents, who captured videos of the spectacular light show and shared them across social media platforms. The thunderous sounds of artillery echoed through the coastal township as the intensive drills continued after sunset.
While the drills were taking place, Taiwan's air force also scrambled fighter jets to intercept 48 Chinese aircraft that entered the island's southwest airspace. Pilots received a provocative radio message stating "The Republic of China has long been dead" during the operation. The psychological warfare tactic occurred at a particularly sensitive moment, with Taiwan preparing for a historic recall election Saturday targeting 24 opposition legislators and Hsinchu's mayor.
