(10 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hsinchu, Taiwan – 10 July 2025
1. Various of tanks firing during a military drill
2. Mid of President Lai Ching-te arriving
3. Lai speaking to soldiers
4. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan:
++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON THE PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS ARTLY OVERLAID WITH THE FOLLOWING SHOTS++
"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."
5. Soldiers listening
6. Mid of Taiwanese soldier demonstrating tank ammunition during drill
7. Pan from tank barrel to soldiers
8. 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.
AP video shot by Johnson Lai
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