Taiwan Conducts Civil Defense Drills Amid Chinese Threats

Taiwan recently conducted its first civil defense drills under President Lai Ching-te's Whole-of-Society Defence Resilience Committee, aiming to enhance the island's preparedness for large-scale disasters and potential attacks, particularly from China. The exercise, held in Tainan with around 1,500 participants, simulated scenarios such as tsunamis and attacks on critical infrastructure, highlighting the importance of societal resilience. Lai emphasized the need for readiness, stating, 'we should rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.' The drills come amid rising tensions with China, which conducted military patrols around Taiwan on the same day. The event was attended by various officials and aimed to strengthen civil society's role in disaster response, separate from military efforts. Further drills are planned for next month as Taiwan continues to bolster its emergency response capabilities.