Taiwan is conducting extensive military drills aimed at increasing the readiness of its troops and citizens in the event of a Chinese attack. According to Voice of America correspondent William Yang from Taipei, Taiwanese officials have worked to make this year’s exercises as realistic as possible.
When the sirens are activated, traffic comes to a halt. Citizens head towards underground shelters.
The goal of this exercise is to improve readiness in the event of a missile attack. Some gather in underground parking spaces and stay ready, awaiting the attack.
Brian Chen was heading to the gym when the drill began.
“Exercises like these are important because, one day, if a serious disaster happens, the Taiwanese people will be prepared. Unlike drills in the past, which were quieter, in recent years air raid drills have expanded and become more frequent,” says the Taipei chef.
“This year’s drills help us understand how close we are to the danger posed by the Chinese military. We must always be prepared for the threats posed by Chinese fighter jets,” says artist Tim Huang.
Taiwan is also conducting a series of “unscripted” military maneuvers aimed at improving the troops’ ability to respond in case of war.
This year’s drills are different—less dramatic and more realistic. Analysts say the changes aim to increase confidence in defensive capabilities.
However, Taiwanese opinions on trust in the military are divided.
“Taiwan is very united, and many of us are well-prepared reservists. I am one of them,” says Jackson Wang, a retired Taipei resident.
“From what I’ve heard and based on the experiences of my friends who have served in the military, I don’t have much confidence in the Taiwanese military’s combat capabilities,” says Lisa Liu, a Taipei resident.
Some argue that drills are not enough and that Taiwan needs to do more to prepare for a possible conflict.
“The only way to prevent war is to prepare for it. We can’t act as if everything is peaceful,” says artist Tim Huang.
He adds that with increasing threats from China, Taiwan should make future military drills even more similar to real combat.
