Taiwan's president, William Lai, took part in an overnight emergency evacuation drill as part of the island's annual Han Kuang military exercises, prompting questions about the reasoning behind moving the head of state in the middle of the night. The exercises, running from 5 to 14 August, are designed to test Taiwan's readiness for a range of security threats, including the possibility of a Chinese invasion, and this year's drills have placed particular emphasis on ensuring continuity of government and command in a crisis scenario.

The BBC's Katy Watson explains that the evacuation formed part of wider preparations simulating how Taiwan's leadership would respond if the island came under attack, reflecting persistent tensions with Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory. The Han Kuang exercises are held annually and are widely viewed as a key indicator of Taiwan's defence posture amid ongoing concerns over Chinese military pressure in the region.