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Taiwan to stage the year's first civil defense drill in Taichung

ROC Central News Agency

04/12/2023 11:00 PM

Taipei, April 12 (CNA) Taiwan will stage the first civil defense drill this year in Taichung on Thursday and will focus more on wartime preparation and key infrastructure protection, according to the All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency under the Ministry of National Defense.

Considering the geopolitical situation surrounding Taiwan, this year's civil defense drills will see an increase in wartime exercises from 50 percent to 70 percent of the total, while those in response to natural disasters will account for 30 percent, said Shen Wei-chih (沈威志), head of the agency, at a press conference in Taipei on Wednesday.

The drills, which will be held in 11 cities and counties, cover two parts -- "war games" and "general exercises for scenarios in the real world," Shen said.

In Taichung, the war games will take place at Chiao-jen Elementary School in Wuri District at 10 a.m., while the real-world exercises will be held at the Taichung metro station next to Taiwan High Speed Rail's Taichung Station, which is also in Wuri District, at 2 p.m., Shen said.

The war games allow the city and county governments to examine the practicality of their planned responses to what might happen during wartime or the aftermath of natural disasters, he said.

Meanwhile, city mayors and county magistrates are tasked with coordinating government agencies and the private sector, as well as organizations of rescuers, volunteers, members of local civil defense units and reservists, he added.

The drills around Taiwan are open to the public, according to a statement released on April 6 by the agency, which would notify the local authorities of the specific plan and locations of the annual civil defense exercises a week before the designated date.

After Taichung, the civil defense drills will be held on the following six Thursdays, first on the Matsu Islands on April 20, then Hsinchu City, Taipei, Kinmen County, Taitung County and Penghu County, according to the agency.

Hualien County will hold the exercises on June 8, Keelung City June 15, Tainan July 25 and Chiayi County July 27, the agency said.

(By Matt Yu and Evelyn Yang)

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