Taipei: Central Taiwan conducted an urban resilience air defense drill on Monday, marking a notable first by deliberately slowing mobile internet services to simulate communication disruptions during a wartime emergency.
According to Focus Taiwan, air raid sirens were activated at 2:30 p.m. across several regions, including Miaoli County, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi City, and Chiayi County, signaling the commencement of the 30-minute exercise. The National Communications Commission played a pivotal role by reducing mobile network bandwidth, while ensuring that essential services such as voice calls, text messaging, emergency calls, and disaster-prevention alerts remained operational.
The drill elicited mixed reactions from the public. In Taichung, residents adhered to police instructions, evacuating to designated shelters after the sirens were heard. Some, however, faced challenges, such as a person in a basement struggling to send a "HELP" photo message. Department stores responded by switching off lights, lowering shutters, and suspending business temporarily. A shopper noted the minimal inconvenience of the slowdown, although shopping became more challenging in the dark.
In contrast, a Vietnamese graduate student lauded the exercise, highlighting that similar drills in Vietnam are typically confined to border areas and predominantly involve military personnel, with limited civilian participation. She appreciated Taiwan's approach, emphasizing the importance of public preparedness and active civilian involvement.
Not all residents were pleased with the internet slowdown. A mobile gamer expressed frustration as a game download stalled, preventing login and labeling the disruption as "disastrous." In Chiayi, a resident testing the internet during the drill observed prolonged photo uploads and difficulty accessing websites but acknowledged the value of the exercise for emergency preparedness.
Authorities demonstrated efficient preparedness, with police and civil defense personnel in Chiayi County swiftly directing vehicles and pedestrians to safe locations. County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang conducted inspections at key sites, including Minxiong Railway Station and an underground air raid shelter, stressing the continuous need to enhance preparedness for complex disasters and emergencies through drills.
In Changhua, the usually bustling streets became eerily silent as residents stayed indoors. A supermarket temporarily closed, fearing mobile payment disruptions, while some residents assessed internet speeds and noted a significant slowdown in download rates.
The urban resilience exercises are set to continue, moving to the outlying counties of Kinmen, Lienchiang, and Penghu on Tuesday, before advancing to northern Taiwan on Thursday.