Taiwan is making its biggest army exercise longer and harder this year, a sign the island is preparing more seriously for a possible Chinese invasion.

• The Lu Sheng exercise runs Oct. 14–23, up from seven days last year.
• Two brigades, one from Taoyuan and one from Kaohsiung, will fight each other in unscripted battle scenarios.
• Troops will be tested on round-the-clock readiness, spread-out command, and when they are allowed to open fire.
• A U.S.-built tracking system lets commanders follow their own troops and mark enemy positions in real time.
• A new scoring system rates which unit has the advantage based on distance, troop numbers, and weapons.

Outlook: The drill should expose weak spots in supply lines and fire support that Taiwan's army will try to fix before the next round.