Personnel at Taiwan’s Chiayi Air Base carried out air-defense emergency procedure drills featuring 35 mm gun-based systems alongside Sparrow missile launchers during day two of the annual Lunar New Year readiness exercises on January 28, 2026, according to Taiwan Monitor on X at approximately 2:15 PM UTC in the reporting window from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM. The drills form part of Taiwan's ongoing Increased Readiness media event, which entered its second day amid Chinese New Year, as previously reported by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense and TaiwanPlus News earlier today. Taiwan Monitor's update specifies the Chiayi Air Base location and equipment used, building on prior reports of air force rapid aircraft restoration and Skyguard air defense demonstrations. No additional details on participating units or exact timings within the 59-minute window were provided in the Taiwan Monitor post. The exercises continue amid earlier announcements from China's Taiwan Affairs Office condemning Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and revealing a planned February KMT-CPC Summit in Beijing.
