(10 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hsinchu, Taiwan – 10 July 2025
1. Wide of tank maneuvering during military drill
2. Various of tanks firing during a military drill
3. Wide of a tank maneuvering through a muddy field during military drill
4. Various of tanks firing
5. Mid of President Lai Ching-te arriving
6. Various of Lai inspecting tanks and soldiers
7. Mid of Taiwanese soldier demonstrating tank ammunition during drill
8. Pan from tank barrel to soldiers
9. Wide Lai speaking to soldiers
10. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan:
"The entire national military is currently conducting the annual and most important Han Kuang Exercise No. 41. This year’s exercise is being carried out in a special manner, without a fixed rehearsal script, as we engage in large-scale, realistic combat drills."
11. Soldiers listening
12. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan:
"When our military has greater strength, the nation, society, and people will be safer. Once our country becomes secure, the Indo-Pacific region will be more peaceful and stable."
13. Lai taking group photo with soldiers
14. Lai raising fist and cheering with soldiers
STORYLINE:
Taiwan included its first batch of 38 U.S.-purchased M1A2T Abrams tanks in a live-fire exercise at Hsinchu military base on Thursday, as launched annual military exercises intended to guard against Chinese threats to invade.
President Lai Ching-te arrived at the base to inspect the drills.
“This year’s exercise is being carried out in a special manner, without a fixed rehearsal script, as we engage in large-scale, realistic combat drills,” Lai said during remarks to soldiers.
This year’s 10-day live-fire Han Kuang drills are the longest yet and follow the delivery of a range of new weaponry from tanks to waterborne drones.
China claims Taiwan as its territory to be annexed by force if necessary, while the vast majority of Taiwanese wish to become fully independent or retain their current status of de facto independence.
The 38 M1A2T tanks were delivered in December under a U.S.-Taiwan arms deal, with a second batch of 42 tanks expected in June and the final 28 scheduled for delivery in early 2026.
Beyond hardware, Taiwan’s defense ties with the United States have been strengthening through increased military cooperation and personnel exchanges.
Last month, during a meeting with U.S. Congressman Ami Bera and his delegation, President Lai expressed hope that Taiwan-U.S. collaboration would evolve from simple military procurement to a broader partnership involving joint production and research and development.
In line with this goal, Taiwan’s Armaments Bureau is preparing to develop an independent production capability for 120mm tank shells to ensure a reliable domestic ammunition supply for the Abrams tanks.
The introduction of the M1A2T tanks is seen as a critical upgrade for Taiwan’s armored forces, bolstering its ability to deter potential threats in the Taiwan Strait amid growing tensions with China.
AP video shot by Johnson Lai
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