Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang 42 live-fire exercise began August 5, with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) participating for the first time as commander-in-chief in the “Wanjun” contingency drill. The exercise, running 10 days and 9 nights through August 14, simulated an emergency requiring the president’s evacuation from the presidential office or residence to a secure command post.

Late on Wednesday, the military deployed domestically produced CM32 Clouded-Leopard eight-wheeled armored vehicles and UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to escort the president and vice president to safety. The armored convoy tasked with the mission is known among security personnel as the “Wanjun vehicles.” 

Presidential footage released on Thursday shows President Lai and Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安), wearing helmets and bulletproof vests, boarding a clouded leopard armored vehicle under security escort. Led by motorcycles and Humvees from the 202nd Military Police Command's Quick Reaction Company, the convoy sped out of the Zhong’ai Camp next to the Presidential Office and proceeded towards the Defense Ministry’s Dazhi headquarters, entering the Heng Shan Military Command Center.

To complicate enemy targeting, the convoy split into multiple routes so adversaries could not pinpoint the president’s exact location. Reports also indicated that U.S. training personnel were observing the drill, underscoring American interest in the evacuation route. 

Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said the drill tested command structures, interdepartmental coordination and emergency mechanisms to ensure that in the face of sudden situations, the government maintains effective operations and continues to safeguard national security and people’s lives.