Taiwan President Lai Ching-te personally joined a Han Kuang 42 drill for the first time on August 5, boarding a fleet of CM-32 Yunpao armored vehicles that surged through central Taipei late at night and headed directly to the Ministry of National Defense's Dazhi headquarters — with US military personnel watching from the sidelines.
The convoy is the operational arm of "Operation Wanjun" (萬鈞計畫), a contingency plan developed by Taiwan's national security apparatus to evacuate the president and vice president in the event of an attack on the Presidential Office or official residence. Under the plan, the head of state can be extracted overland in CM-32 Yunpao eight-wheeled armored vehicles — designed and built domestically — or airlifted by Black Hawk helicopters, with security personnel escorting both principals to a secure location.
CM-32 Yunpao Vehicles Surge Through Central Taipei
The drill began around 10 p.m. at Zhong'ai Barracks, adjacent to the Presidential Office. Three motorcycles and Humvees from the Military Police 202nd Command's Quick Reaction Company sped out first, conducting security sweeps along Bo'ai Road and Aiguo West Road to clear the route. By 10:30 p.m., the first wave of Wanjun armored vehicles had rolled out of the barracks. A second wave of six eight-wheeled armored vehicles followed roughly 10 minutes later.
Near 11 p.m., a third wave departed — taking a different route from the previous two, turning directly onto Aiguo West Road upon leaving the barracks. Police sealed off Bo'ai Road behind the Presidential Office as the full convoy assembled at the rear gate and along Changsha Street. With Lai reportedly aboard one of the CM-32 Yunpao vehicles, the entire armored column then moved out in the direction of the Ministry of National Defense.
US Officers Track Presidential Convoy Routes in Real Time
Storm Media reporters on the scene observed US military personnel enter Zhong'ai Barracks before the drill began, then proceed to the Presidential Office area and position themselves alongside the Wanjun convoy as it moved. The US presence — following the convoy's specific routes and timing on the ground — signals a high level of American attention to Taiwan's continuity-of-government protocols and presidential security architecture.
The exercise also marked a personal milestone: this was the first time President Lai has directly participated in a Han Kuang drill since taking office, an involvement that underscored just how seriously Taiwan's leadership is treating the 42nd edition of its most consequential annual defense exercise. （Related： Exclusive | Taiwan Builds a Smarter Reserve Force, One Brigade at a Time ｜ Latest ）
