The city of Taipei came to a standstill on Thursday as air raid sirens sounded as part of a drill against a possible Chinese attack. Thousands of people took to underground shelters, car parks, and subway stations for the safety drill.
The annual drill is being held in various cities in Taiwan in conjunction with military exercises to prepare the country for the possibility of a Chinese invasion. At 1:30 p.m., traffic came to a standstill and people were ordered to enter safe areas such as convenience stores and offices.
The drills include mass-casualty scenarios and war-time aid distribution. President Lai Ching-te said the drills are important to prepare the public. Resident Oscar Wang said, “This is necessary because the tension is high right now, so people should know the evacuation routes.”
At the same time, the 10-day Han Kuang military drills are also continuing, where regular troops and the largest group of reservists have trained. US Stinger missiles and high-tech missile launchers have also been displayed to the public. There are drills in the metro system and even in supermarkets so people can see what to do in a missile strike.
The expert said that such training is important to accustom the people to modern warfare and avoid panic in the event of an actual attack.
