Access was restricted for approximately 30 minutes on Monday as part of the annual Han Kuang defense exercises, which are scheduled to conclude on Friday. Taiwanese military personnel are currently running drills simulating an invasion by Beijing, including exercises in transportation, anti-airdrop, and live-ammunition training. Soldiers assemble before deploying overnight from Hualien to reinforce Yilan during the annual Han Kuang military exercises in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, late Sunday night, Aug. 9, 2026. It was the first time that these military exercises were complemented by internet restriction drills, which were rolled out at separate times in three regions of the island. It is only one aspect of national defense that has evolved since the Han Kuang exercises began in the 1980’s.