This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission. The annual Han Kuang military exercise is underway across Taiwan but parts of the drills have had to be scaled back because what could be the most powerful typhoon to hit the island in years  is due to make landfall. Han Kuang, in its 40th iteration this year, is Taiwan’s largest annual military exercise. It covers key strategic locations including Greater Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung. The military said 29,000 troops had been put on stand-by for disaster relief after the weather office warned that Typhoon Gaemi is expected to unleash winds of up to 184 kph, with gusts of up to 227 kph, and to dump torrential rain. The storm, which is due to reach the coast on Wednesday evening, is forecast to be the strongest to hit Taiwan in eight years and could cause severe landslides and flooding. Yilan and Hualien counties in the east of the island are expected to be the worst hit. An air drill with fighter jets taking off, landing and refueling quickly from Hualien Air Base has been canceled.  Hundreds of commercial flights were also canceled or delayed, and Taiwan Railways said all of its services had been suspended for 12 hours from Wednesday afternoon. Streets in the capital Taipei are empty as offices and schools are shut. The games must go on The ministry of defense said most of the drills, scheduled for July 22-26, are to go ahead despite the weather. The Taiwanese army’s First Theatre of Operation conducted a joint anti-landing exercise on Penghu island in the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday morning. For the first time, the exercise was live streamed on Facebook, the ministry said. However, only ground troops were taking part in the drills as