Taiwan Bolsters Disaster Readiness: Civil Defense Drill in Tainan to Test Resilience

Unscripted Exercise Simulates "Compound Disasters" with Civilian Participation

Taipei, Taiwan – March 24 – Approximately 900 civilians are set to participate in a comprehensive civil defense drill in Tainan, Taiwan, on Thursday, focusing on disaster response and civilian preparedness. The exercise, designed to simulate severe "compound disasters" involving earthquakes, tsunamis, and critical infrastructure disruptions, will emphasize the crucial role of public-private sector cooperation in ensuring societal resilience, according to sources.

The exercise will be staged in Tainan, but fire departments from nearby Kaohsiung and Chiayi, along with alternative service conscripts, will also join. The focus is on training civilians to utilize military field hospital equipment without the direct assistance of armed forces personnel, a significant departure from traditional drills.

Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) announced on March 18 that the drill aims to test central and local governments' emergency response capabilities, particularly in large-scale evacuations, sheltering, and the establishment of emergency medical facilities.

The Ministry of National Defense's Medical Affairs Bureau is lending its newly acquired Forward Resuscitative and Surgical Detachment (FRSD) medical sets and inflatable field hospital tents. The FRSD provides essential medical supplies and equipment for rapidly deployable surgical services. The weatherproofed, inflatable tents are designed for swift deployment and transportation, making them ideal for treating patients following natural disasters or in conflict zones.

An unnamed senior Ministry of Interior official indicated that this drill will be "unscripted and more realistic" compared to previous civil defense and Wan An air raid drills. Following the Tainan exercise, the government will conduct Urban Resilience Exercises from April to July, combining Wan An air raid drills with Min An disaster response drills. These exercises will culminate in the military's annual Han Kuang drills' live-fire portion in July.

The exercise will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tainan Municipal Nan-Ning Senior High School, Anping Port Visitors' Center, and the square across from the Tainan Yuping Post Office. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) will be present to oversee the proceedings.

These efforts are orchestrated under the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, an advisory group established by the Presidential Office, which is committed to bolstering Taiwan's resilience by training civilian forces, securing strategic supplies, reinforcing energy and key infrastructure, and ensuring the continuity of essential services like medical, transportation, information, and financial facilities.