Taiwan Army Simulates Chemical Attack Response in Han Kuang Drill

As part of the ongoing Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan's Army conducted a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) decontamination drill in Hualien on Sunday, simulating a chemical weapons attack on armored vehicles and personnel.

The exercise involved the Hualien Armored Vehicle Unit of the Army's Second Combat Zone. Soldiers practiced rapidly moving contaminated vehicles, setting up a temporary decontamination station, and executing procedures to detect toxic substances, identify contaminated areas, and remove hazardous materials.

Army Maj. Chang Chih-yuan explained that the decontamination station's primary purpose is to remove NBC contamination from key combat equipment, such as armored vehicles and tanks, allowing them to recover quickly and ensuring personnel safety.

At the temporary station, military personnel in protective gear underwent full-body decontamination. Armored vehicles and tanks were also cleaned and disinfected according to designated procedures and areas.

Reservist Lin Bing-xuan, who has been discharged for 10 years and is attending his fourth training, noted that this session was more precise and accurate than previous ones. "Previously, there was more indoor training, but now we are going to conduct tactical drills outdoors," he said.

The Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan's largest annual military drills, began Wednesday and will run through August 14 at various locations across the island, aiming to strengthen combat readiness and response capabilities against a range of potential threats.