Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Thursday instructed relevant authorities to strengthen maritime coordination, commercial shipping communications, and drone reconnaissance capabilities following a tabletop exercise simulating a Chinese quarantine of Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lai issued the instructions after the eighth meeting of the Presidential Office's Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee. This meeting centered on a tabletop exercise held earlier Thursday that simulated Chinese "gray zone" activities-coercive acts that fall short of open conflict-and high-intensity maritime coercion.
Lii Wen, deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council, stated at a pre-meeting briefing that the exercise covered three scenarios: the delivery and transfer of supplies, the boarding and inspection of non-Chinese vessels by Chinese law enforcement authorities, and disruptions to logistical operations.
In response to these scenarios, Lai instructed the National Security Council (NSC), the Ministry of National Defense (MND), and the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) to continue strengthening the integration of maritime and air domain intelligence and real-time reporting mechanisms. This aims to improve early warning capabilities for abnormal activities and ensure that developments are identified at the earliest possible stage, a statement from the Presidential Office detailed.
Lai also directed the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the OAC, and other relevant agencies to collaborate with the MND to enhance notification and communication mechanisms with domestic and foreign commercial vessels. They are also tasked with strengthening maritime law enforcement capabilities and implementing necessary measures to expel intruding vessels.
He emphasized the need for improved maritime route planning and reinforced drone reconnaissance and escort mechanisms to boost maritime surveillance and emergency response capabilities. The smooth operation of port berthing, cargo loading and unloading, and vessel arrivals and departures was also highlighted as a priority.
The agencies were further instructed to fortify the resilience of energy supplies and other critical civilian necessities by ensuring the safety and accessibility of key ports and vital shipping lanes.
Lai also tasked the OAC, the Coast Guard Administration, and the National Police Agency with expanding the use of drones to support maritime and land transportation control, security, and escort operations, ensuring the continuity of the country's critical systems.
Furthermore, Lai directed the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to continue reviewing stockpiles of energy and other essential civilian supplies. Monitoring supply and demand, establishing priority allocations, and verifying procedures for procuring supplies from overseas are part of these measures.
Lai concluded by instructing all relevant agencies to strengthen international strategic communications and ensure public messaging remains consistent and transparent. Addressing any shortcomings identified during the exercise and ensuring that proposed mechanisms for interagency coordination and public-private cooperation are translated into actionable plans were also emphasized.