Military exercises underway in Taiwan, simulating potential conflict with China in a scenario the island nation hopes remains avoided.
In a bid to bolster national resilience, Taiwan has recently conducted its largest-ever island-wide civil defense exercise, the **2025 Urban Resilience Exercise**. This year's drills, which combine air defense and civil defense exercises, are a response to the unspoken threat of an attack or invasion by Taiwan's northern neighbor, China.
The evolution of these drills is marked by integration and expansion, involving multiple regions across the country, and increased public participation. The exercises simulate urban resilience under wartime conditions, with practices such as air raid sirens, public evacuation procedures, and traffic controls.
Taiwan is also investing in advanced military technologies, such as drones and cyber capabilities, to deter potential aggression. This focus on low-cost, defensive systems aligns with U.S. priorities and facilitates joint exercises with allies like Japan and Australia.
To prepare citizens, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has trained 200,000 reservists in operating portable defense systems like Stingers and drones. Public awareness is also being raised through mobile alert notifications and education campaigns. The strong societal support for these measures is evident, with 78% of Taiwanese citizens backing the civilian integration into defense efforts.
This year's drills saw more than 22,000 reservists involved, a 50% increase from last year. The duration of the drills has also been extended, with this year's exercise lasting ten days, twice as long as before. The drills include mass casualty simulations and emergency supply drops, preparing the nation for potential conflict scenarios.
During the drills, air raid sirens were activated in Taipei, causing traffic to halt and people to seek shelter. Businesses closed their doors as customers and employees watched the streets empty. Civil defense volunteers guided people into shelters, basements, and underground malls.
Despite the drills, there remains uncertainty among Taipei residents about the next time they might hear the sirens. The drills have served as a reminder of the large threat from China, with many expressing feelings of nervousness and the need to be prepared for potential war.
The drills are staged in conjunction with Han Kuang 41, the country's largest-ever military simulation. The MND is emphasizing both military readiness and public engagement, reflecting a proactive approach to enhancing Taiwan's defense capabilities and societal resilience in the face of global tensions.
The 2025 Urban Resilience Exercise in Taiwan, an integration of air and civil defense drills, is not only a response to the potential threat of war-and-conflicts with its northern neighbor, China, but also a demonstration of its commitment to enhancing general-news topics such as politics and Asia's security landscape. In addition, public participation in these exercises, simulating urban resilience under wartime conditions, is evident, with 78% of Taiwanese citizens supporting the integration of civilians into defense efforts.
