Taiwan Launches Han Kuang 42 Exercise, Mobilizing Over 5,000 Reservists; Defense Minister Confirms US Military Training

On August 5, 2026, Taiwan's Han Kuang 42 exercise began a 10-day, 9-night live-force drill, mobilizing over 5,000 reserve soldiers to participate and equipping them with US-style rifles, while Taiwan's defense minister Wellington Koo publicly confirmed for the first time that US troops had been stationed to assist with training.