Taiwan Rolls Out New US-Made Tanks to Combat China’s Aggression

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Jul 12, 2025 - 10:06 Updated: Jul 11, 2025 - 22:53
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Taiwan Rolls Out New US-Made Tanks to Combat China’s Aggression
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Taiwan showed off its newly acquired U.S.-made M1A2T Abrams tanks on Thursday, the second day of the annual military exercises designed to deter China’s aggression.

Video footage displayed the tanks parading individually and in group formations, conducting a live-fire shooting training at the Husinchu training grounds. The 120 mm tank guns fired armour-piercing ammunition at stationary and moving targets; all 19 rounds struck without missing, according to the army.
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The drills, known as Han Kuang, are annual exercises to train for combat readiness in the event of a full-scale Chinese invasion. Rehearsals focus on defensive war and civil-military integration measures, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday.

The duration of the drill doubled from previous years, running from July 9 to July 18. The armed forces will train for 10 days and 9 nights, around the clock. The defense ministry cautioned that the exercises could potentially cause temporary public traffic inconveniences, according to the statement.

The Chinese Communist Party claims that the democratically governed Taiwan is its province, despite never having ruled over the island. Tensions on both sides of the strait have gradually heated up, as China over the past years has escalated its level of military activity in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te inspected the site and praised the tanks’ mobility and striking capabilities. In his speech, Lai said the national army is conducting the most important Han Kuang exercise, and the “extreme training” will go toward Taiwan’s strategy of “defense and multi-layered deterrence.”

Lai encouraged military members to train rigorously during peacetime, emphasizing how individual contribution goes a long way.

“With each extra bit of combat power, the nation, society, and people gain an extra layer of security,” he said. “Not a single effort will be wasted.”

Taiwan began receiving its first batch of U.S.-made M1A2T Abrams tanks last December, marking the island’s first new main battle tank acquisition in 24 years. The initial shipment included 38 tanks, with the full delivery of all 108 expected over the next two years under a $1.45 billion deal.

The new Abrams replaces the aging CM-11 “Brave Tiger” tanks, locally developed decades ago using older U.S. components. Lai called the upgrade a boon to the Taiwanese military, saying it will “integrate more effectively in the future, whether with drones or innovative tactics and strategies, to further advance our national goals.”

As the exercises commence, the ministry urged the Taiwanese public to stay vigilant and heed caution against any coordinated groups that spread “military disinformation” or “false and misleading claims.”
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Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, Jiang Bing, responded to the Han drills announcement at a presser on July 8. He dismissed the exercises as “nothing but a bluff,” and blamed Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party for being motivated by partisan interests.
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The United States reaffirmed its commitment to aid Taiwan in late June, outlining the threat China poses to the island. Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, said the strait is being “watched by an unblinking eye” with multiple countries working together to prevent an invasion.
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