Taiwan, Taiwan
CNN
–
Under the midday sun, the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, rehearsed for the war for 30 minutes.
The president’s warning began to ring on his phone at 1:30pm on Thursday in the city of over 2 million people. “(Air defense drill) missile attack. Look for shelter immediately.”
The sirens from the air raid came in and bouncing back rows of concrete apartment blocks and office towers. High-pitched, ominous sounds are instantly recognized and, for those who have experienced the real thing, they stir the gut.
The big-mouthed police began screaming and ordering all traffic to be pulled out. The driver had to abandon the car in search of shelter by flashing traffic lights. The bus sat idle and was empty in the middle of a normally bustling street.
Civil defense volunteers in yellow vests led people to shelters, basements and basements.
The MRT – Taipei’s sparkling, air-conditioned subway system – continued running, but passengers were told to stay on the platform.
On the ground, the city has been empty. The business closed the door as customers and employees saw the streets open within seconds. It felt like I traveled back in time on the worst day of the coronavirus pandemic.
The reason for this annual drill is that it is an implicit threat of attacks or invasions by giant Taiwanese neighbors in the north. China’s Communist Party claims that Taiwan is its own territory and is taken away by force if necessary.
Although democratic Taiwan has long been accustomed to those threats, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sharply reassured what could be at risk if peace fades, increasingly shrill rhetoric from the conflict in China’s leader Xi Jinping and the Middle East.
“When I hear the sirens, I get nervous. China has been there the whole time, but when the sirens go away, it reminds me of the huge threat next to us,” said Taipei resident Carl Chu. “Wars can happen anytime. We need to take responsibility, prepare ourselves, know how to protect ourselves.”
Another Taipei resident, Jessica Fan, added: “Many people viewed these training as mediocre routines, but they feel that this year is close to home because of what happened in Ukraine and Israel.
For the first time this year, Taiwan combined two major civil defense exercises to become one island-wide rehearsal, an island-wide rehearsal. The 2025 Urban Resilience Exercise was performed in collaboration with Han Kuang 41, the island’s largest military simulation.
This year’s drill is 10 days and twice as long as the previous one. The timing is no coincidence. Tensions with Beijing remain high. Polls suggest that most Taiwanese people do not believe that an invasion is imminent, but the government is preparing with focus and urgency.
Beyond sirens and evacuation, the drill included massive casualty simulations and a drop in emergency supply. Outside the Tri-Service General Hospital, the military responded live to imaginary missile strikes. A nearby road was sealed, and the Medic of the mock mock victims of full protective gear was sealed.
All of Taiwan, nearly 50% of the reserves have been involved in scenarios ranging from urban combat to cyber defense.
Recently, soldiers conducted drills in subway tunnels and exhibition halls, transforming civilian infrastructure into a test battlefield.
The Ministry of Defense emphasizes both military preparation and public involvement, including new outreach to Taiwanese foreigners, including English directions.
The government is also urging citizens to download shelter maps, learn about evacuation routes and recognize clear silent tones.
When all the clear sirens finally rang, Taipei quickly reverted back to normality and bouncing back.
Within seconds, traffic and pedestrians returned to the street as people tried to beat the heat and humidity of the summer in a daily basis. Most people believe that the next time you hear the siren, it will be another drill.
But these days, no one is sure.
