4 days ago
How Taiwan is preparing for Chinese invasion with sirens and drills
The alarm sounded for incoming missiles just as Yang Shu-ting was popping into her local supermarket.
'I just came to get my groceries,' she said. 'I'm 70 years old, so I always write a list of things I need in advance.'
But her shopping was interrupted when the supermarket staff explained that a simulated Chinese air attack on Taipei was taking place.
As sirens rang out across the aisles, Yang was guided into a basement where actors, planted in the crowd, pretended to faint. One woman acted out a panic attack, as shop assistants struggled to calm her down and administer CPR to a dummy.
The drills form part of an elaborate rehearsal for what in the last few years has come to seem more and more likely: an invasion of the self-ruling island by China. Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to unify it with the mainland.
Beginning earlier this month, the Taiwanese armed forces have conducted their biggest ever annual military drill. This year the Han Kuang exercises were bigger, longer and more elaborate than ever, lasting ten days and involving tests of Himars missile systems and newly acquired Abrams tanks, imported from the United States.
They are intended as a signal to President Xi of China that Taiwan is prepared for war, but also a signal to citizens that the chance of conflict is rising, and Beijing's threat needs to be taken more seriously — part of a new 'whole-of-society resilience' plan being promoted by the Taiwanese government.
Wang Ting-yu, an MP with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of President Lai, said: 'In the modern world, it's not all about the military. Taiwan, this small island of 23 million people — we are all under threat.
'We need to mobilise everything we have. We have soldiers, reserve forces, and our convenience stores will be the best logistics system during the conflict time.'
RITCHIE B TONGO/EPA
As well as increasing Taiwan's ability to respond to natural disasters, the integration of civilian and military sectors into emergency response planning is also a way to increase the cost that China's People's Liberation Army would incur if it were to invade Taiwan.
Wang said: 'This is one way of multiple to deter conflict. Make your enemy realise we are ready for the worst scenario.'
The drills are also designed as a message to the Trump administration that Taiwan is prepared to defend itself. Although the US is Taiwan's closest friend on the international stage and has committed itself to selling arms to the island, Washington does not recognise Taiwan diplomatically. It maintains a posture of strategic ambiguity about whether it would come to Taipei's aid if China were to invade.
'Our readiness is very important to our allies,' Wang said. More than 400 American observers have attended this year's Han Kuang drills.
Rescuers and volunteers participate in the urban resilience exercises in Taipei
RITCHIE B TONGO/EPA
On Thursday, Taipei ground to a halt as the sound of air raid sirens filled the air. Phones vibrated as emergency messages were sent out: 'Enemy missile attack on northern Taiwan — seek shelter immediately.'
Huang Rui-cheng, a representative from the Civil Defence Command and Control Centre, said: 'We've gradually shifted towards more physical, hands-on drills and exercises, allowing the public to slowly immerse themselves and experience it firsthand. We hope that through these drills, the public will understand how to evacuate and how to respond when circumstances arise.'
But in the busy shopping district of Ximen, residents appeared more bored than worried.
Although the government has emphasised that this year's drills would be taken more seriously, once ushered into nearby metro stations nobody followed the government-issued recommendations to crouch and protect their heads until the drill was over.
Although the risk of Chinese military aggression is ever-present, in the minds of many in Taiwan, the existential threat often fades into the background of daily life.
A survey by Taiwan's Institute for National Defence and Security Research in March suggested that only a third of those surveyed viewed China as Taiwan's top national security threat. Another study conducted in November last year found that almost half felt 'indifferent' in the face of Chinese military exercises.
'If a real war broke out, all this practice is fine, but it doesn't really serve much purpose,' said Hsu Ah-yao, a local shop worker. 'I also think it's a hassle — feels kind of like a waste of resources.'
Others in Ximen explained they had specifically made lunch plans during the exercise, so that they wouldn't be inconvenienced by the rules preventing people from walking the streets.
Despite the disruption to her shopping, Yang supported the exercises. 'I think today's event was good,' she said, as she checked the contents of her shopping bag after the evacuation. 'It raises awareness about where our evacuation points are. Then when the time comes, we can co-operate, follow the guidance, and stay calm,' she said.
