Taipei, Aug. 6 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Thursday boarded a Coast Guard Administration (CGA) vessel in New Taipei's Bali District to observe coastal defense operations during the annual Han Kuang military exercise. According to a Presidential Office news release, Lai received briefings on the patrol vessel's equipment and coastal strike operations. He also inspected its missile launcher system and learned about its configuration and operational readiness. Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a researcher at the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the primary purpose of deploying mobile air defense missile systems is to preserve combat effectiveness. An soldier stands guard near a Sky Bow air defense missile launcher deployed to a tactical position in Taipei on Thursday during the second day of the annual Han Kuang military exercise.