Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery joins The Cipher Brief to discuss Taiwan’s largest-ever Han Kuang military exercises and what they signal about the island’s evolving defense strategy. From expanded live-fire drills to increased civil defense and cybersecurity focus, Taiwan is preparing for more than just a potential cross-strait invasion. Montgomery explains why gray zone threats—like cyber-enabled economic warfare—may pose an even greater challenge, and why future drills need to include bilateral cooperation with the U.S. to be truly effective.