Taiwanese President William Lai participated in an emergency evacuation drill conducted in the middle of the night as part of the island's annual Han Kuang military exercises, which run from 5 to 14 August. The drill forms part of Taiwan's broader preparations for a potential Chinese invasion, simulating the rapid relocation of senior leadership under threat. The exercises reflect growing concern in Taipei over cross-strait tensions and the need to stress-test civilian and military readiness at the highest levels of government.