Air raid sirens sounded across Taipei as street traffic halted and public spaces cleared for Taiwan’s annual civil defense and Han Kuang military drills, which included simulated disruptions to mobile communications.
As part of the ten-day exercise simulating a potential cross-strait invasion scenario, government authorities deliberately throttled mobile internet speeds in northern Taiwan for a thirty-minute window. The trial, following a similar test in central Taiwan earlier in the week, aimed to simulate communications disruptions that could occur during an active conflict. Fixed-line connections and wireless networks remained unaffected throughout the planned test.
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During the air raid simulation, law enforcement guided pedestrians to underground shelters and instructed vehicles to clear major roadways. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te inspected emergency preparations alongside foreign diplomatic representatives, visiting a converted subterranean hospital ward and a emergency supply distribution point in New Taipei City.
The civil defense procedures occurred alongside maritime military exercises off Taiwan’s eastern coast. The Taiwanese navy and coast guard conducted joint anti-blockade operations, deploying minesweepers and escort vessels to guide a simulated merchant ship to port. The joint operation marks the first coordinated anti-blockade drill between the two maritime services, addressing concerns over potential naval blockades in surrounding waters.
