Taiwan is scaling up its main annual army exercise, a sign the island is pushing its ground forces toward more realistic war training.

• The Lu Sheng 2 exercise runs October 14–23 with two combined arms brigades fighting each other for real.
• The drill grows from 7 days to 10 days, running around the clock day and night.
• Drones are included for the first time, used for both scouting and attack practice.
• New American M1A2T tanks and backup military communication links, including satellite internet, get tested under battlefield conditions.
• The exercise area moved north, and local governments will send liaison officers to help the troops tap civilian resources.

Outlook: The drill doubles as the army's yearly report card on whether its brigades can actually fight a drawn-out defense of the island.