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News18
7 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Taipei Halts As Taiwan Stages Mass Evacuations And War Drills Amid China Threat
Last Updated: Taipei conducted a major civil defence exercise simulating a Chinese attack, coinciding with Taiwan's Han Kuang military drills. Taiwan's capital Taipei came to a standstill as the island conducted one of its largest-ever civil defence exercises, simulating how citizens and emergency services would respond to a Chinese attack. The drills coincided with Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises as the self-governing island ramps up efforts to strengthen its defences amid increasing pressure from Beijing. Air raid sirens rang out across the Taipei metropolitan area, forcing residents to seek shelter indoors while traffic was brought to a complete halt. Businesses, shops and restaurants were required to pause operations as drivers instructed to pull over and head indoors immediately. In key areas of the city- including temple squares, subway stations, highways and schools-emergency workers and volunteers carried out evacuation drills. Authorities also simulated mass casualty events, mimicking missile or bomb strikes, with rescuers pulling out 'survivors," treating mock injuries and distributing emergency supplies. This year's Urban Resilience exercise marks the first time that civil defence drills have been fully integrated into the Han Kuang war games, Taiwan's most significant annual military exercise. Taiwan President William Lai said, 'We hope by preparing for war, we can avoid war, to achieve the goal of peace. With preparation, we have strength." China Condemns Drill As 'Self-Deceiving Stance' Beijing, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to reunify the island, sharply criticised the exercises. Chinese authorities called the drills 'a bluff and self-deceiving stance" as tensions between China and Taiwan have grown significantly since Lai's election earlier this year. China has particularly targeted Lai, branding him a 'separatist." Taiwan also tested newly acquired defence systems including the US-supplied HIMARS mobile missile launcher and domestically produced rockets. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Saudi Gazette
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Sirens and evacuations as Taipei rehearses to counter China invasion threat
TAIPEI — The Taiwanese capital was due to come to a standstill as the capital of Taiwan holds one of its largest-ever civil defence exercises against a possible Chinese invasion. Air raid sirens will ring out across the metropolitan Taipei on Thursday, and in some areas residents must seek shelter indoors, while traffic will grind to a halt. The city will also hold mass evacuation drills and mass casualty event rehearsals. The exercise is held in conjunction with Taiwan's largest ever war games - the annual Han Kuang exercises - as the island increasingly ramps up its defences. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to "reunify" with the island. Tensions have increased since last year when Taiwan elected its president William Lai, whom China reviles as a "separatist". While previous Han Kuang exercises also had civil defence components, this year authorities have combined them in a single Urban Resilience exercise across the island which began on Tuesday and ends on Friday. Each day of the exercise sees air raid sirens ringing out for half an hour in several cities across Taiwan. Residents in designated areas in each city must shelter indoors – or risk incurring a fine - and all shops and restaurants must pause operations. Road traffic must also come to a stop, with drivers required to pull over and head indoors immediately. In Taipei, emergency workers and volunteers will take part in evacuations of a market and temple, schools, subway stations and highways. They will also hold a mock mass casualty event and practise their response in treating the injured, and set up distribution points for emergency supplies. This week's Urban Resilience exercise is the latest civil defence drill Taiwan has held this year as it tries to prepare its cities for possible attacks and raise its population's defence awareness. While US officials have warned of an imminent threat from China and that President Xi Jinping wants his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027, most Taiwanese remain sceptical that an actual invasion will take place. One poll done last October by a government-linked think tank, the Institute for National Defence and Security Research (INDSR), found that more than 60% of Taiwanese do not believe China will invade in the next five years. "The chances of China invading are low. If they really wanted to invade us, they would have done it long ago," said Ben, a 29-year-old finance professional interviewed by the BBC in Taipei on Wednesday. "But I do believe we need these drills, every country needs it and you need to practise your defence... I believe there is still a threat from China." But a few were sceptical. "There is just too big a difference in the strengths of China and Taiwan's militaries," said Mr Xue, a 48-year-old office worker. "There is no use defending ourselves against an attack." The IDSR poll had found that only half of Taiwan's population had confidence in their armed forces' capability to defend the island. It is a long-running sentiment that has spurred the Taiwanese government in recent years to beef up its military and expand Han Kuang. More than 22,000 soldiers - about 50% more than last year – rehearsed defending the island from potential attacks from China in land, sea and air drills. Newly acquired military hardware such as the US-supplied Himars mobile missile system as well as Taiwan-made rockets were tested. This year's Han Kuang exercise also focused on combating greyzone warfare and misinformation from China, as well as rehearsing military defence in cities. In recent days soldiers took part in urban warfare exercises in an exhibition centre and on the subway in Taipei. On Wednesday the military rehearsed pushing back enemy troops on the streets of Taichung city, and turned a high school in Taoyuan into a battle tank repair station. — BBC
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First Post
17-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Taiwan rehearses China invasion protocol, Taipei stands still with sirens, evacuation drill
Taiwan's capital Taipei will temporarily shut down on Thursday as part of a major civil defence drill aimed at preparing for a potential Chinese invasion. The exercise, involving air raid sirens, evacuation drills, and emergency response rehearsals. read more A Navy miniature is seen in front of displayed Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration. Reuters Taipei is set to come to a standstill on Thursday as the Taiwanese capital conducts one of its largest-ever civil defence drills, preparing for a possible Chinese invasion, according to a report by the BBC. Air raid sirens will sound across the city, requiring residents in some areas to take shelter indoors, while traffic will be brought to a halt. Authorities will also carry out large-scale evacuation drills and emergency simulations for mass casualty incidents. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The exercise is part of Taiwan's broader annual Han Kuang military drills—the island's largest war games—as it ramps up defence preparations amid growing threats from China. Beijing views self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve unification. Tensions have escalated since the election of President William Lai last year, a leader China denounces as a 'separatist.' While previous Han Kuang drills included civil defence components, this year they have been integrated into a sweeping 'Urban Resilience' exercise, running from Tuesday to Friday across the island. Each day, air raid sirens blare for 30 minutes in various cities. During that time, residents in designated zones must shelter indoors or risk fines. All businesses must pause operations, and road traffic is ordered to stop, with drivers required to pull over and seek cover. In Taipei, emergency responders and volunteers will practise evacuating markets, temples, schools, subway stations, and highways. They will also stage a mock mass-casualty event, simulate treatment of the injured, and set up emergency supply distribution points. The Urban Resilience drill is the latest in a series of civil defence efforts aimed at strengthening Taiwan's preparedness and raising public awareness about national security. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While US officials have warned that China could attempt an invasion by 2027, many Taiwanese remain sceptical that war is near. A government-backed poll conducted last October by the Institute for National Defence and Security Research found that over 60% of Taiwanese do not believe China will invade within the next five years.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sirens and evacuations as Taipei rehearses to counter China invasion threat
Taipei is due to come to a standstill as the capital of Taiwan holds one of its largest-ever civil defence exercises against a possible Chinese raid sirens will ring out across the metropolitan area on Thursday, and in some areas residents must seek shelter indoors, while traffic will grind to a halt. The city will also hold mass evacuation drills and mass casualty event exercise is held in conjunction with Taiwan's largest ever war games - the annual Han Kuang exercises - as the island increasingly ramps up its claims self-ruled Taiwan as its part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to "reunify" with the island. Tensions have increased since last year when Taiwan elected its president William Lai, whom China reviles as a "separatist".While previous Han Kuang exercises also had civil defence components, this year authorities have combined them in a single Urban Resilience exercise across the island which began on Tuesday and ends on day of the exercise sees air raid sirens ringing out for half an hour in several cities across in designated areas in each city must shelter indoors – or risk incurring a fine - and all shops and restaurants must pause operations. Road traffic must also come to a stop, with drivers required to pull over and head indoors Taipei, emergency workers and volunteers will take part in evacuations of a market and temple, schools, subway stations and will also hold a mock mass casualty event and practise their response in treating the injured, and set up distribution points for emergency week's Urban Resilience exercise is the latest civil defence drill Taiwan has held this year as it tries to prepare its cities for possible attacks and raise its population's defence awareness. While US officials have warned of an imminent threat from China and that President Xi Jinping wants his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027, most Taiwanese remain sceptical that an actual invasion will take poll done last October by a government-linked think tank, the Institute for National Defence and Security Research (INDSR), found that more than 60% of Taiwanese do not believe China will invade in the next five years."The chances of China invading are low. If they really wanted to invade us, they would have done it long ago," said Ben, a 29-year-old finance professional interviewed by the BBC in Taipei on Wednesday. "But I do believe we need these drills, every country needs it and you need to practise your defence… I believe there is still a threat from China."But a few were sceptical. "There is just too big a difference in the strengths of China and Taiwan's militaries," said Mr Xue, a 48-year-old office worker. "There is no use defending ourselves against an attack."The IDSR poll had found that only half of Taiwan's population had confidence in their armed forces' capability to defend the is a long-running sentiment that has spurred the Taiwanese government in recent years to beef up its military and expand Han Kuang. More than 22,000 soldiers - about 50% more than last year – rehearsed defending the island from potential attacks from China in land, sea and air drills. Newly acquired military hardware such as the US-supplied Himars mobile missile system as well as Taiwan-made rockets were year's Han Kuang exercise also focused on combating greyzone warfare and misinformation from China, as well as rehearsing military defence in cities. In recent days soldiers took part in urban warfare exercises in an exhibition centre and on the subway in Taipei. On Wednesday the military rehearsed pushing back enemy troops on the streets of Taichung city, and turned a high school in Taoyuan into a battle tank repair station.
South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan kicks off its largest and longest-ever annual military exercise
For more on this story: Taiwan is holding its largest and longest-ever annual military exercise, training to respond to simulated mainland Chinese grey-zone operations – those just under the threshold of open conflict and aimed at intimidating and exhausting Taiwan's defences. The 10-day, round-the-clock war game, which started on July 9, 2025, was described as being designed to reflect a more realistic and protracted cross-strait conflict scenario. The 41st edition of the Han Kuang exercise marks a significant departure from previous years, both in scale and duration. Rather than the usual five-day format, the current drills have been extended to 10 days and 9 nights and conducted without scripts or fixed timelines to mimic battlefield unpredictability, according to Taiwan's defence ministry. The first batch of 38 US-bought M1A2T Abrams tanks was included in a live-fire exercise at a military base in Hsinchu, where Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te visited to inspect the drills.
