THE Taiwan puts her anti-aircraft guns on standby shelters while the growing tension in its relations with China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine raise young fears about the possibility of a Chinese attack on the island.
China considers Taiwan its territory and has increased its military presence in the air and sea space around it. Taiwan is committed to defending its territory and has made it a priority to strengthen its defense by regularly conducting military and civil defense exercises.
Preparations include shelter markings, where citizens will be able to protect themselves in the event of a missile attack from China – not in purpose-built bunkers, but in underground areas such as parking lots, the subway and underground shopping malls.
THE Taipei has more than 4,600 such shelters which can accommodate about 12 million people, more than four times its population.
18-year-old Harmony Wu was surprised to learn that an underground shopping mall where she and other young people had recently been rehearsing a dance would be turned into an air raid shelter in the event of war. But, as he says, he understands the reasons.
“Having shelters is very necessary. We don’t know when war might happen and these are for our safety. War is fierce. We have not experienced it and therefore we are not prepared,” Vou says, according to APE-MPE.
Taipei officials update the database of designated shelters by putting their location information into a mobile application and conduct campaign through social media and posters to ensure citizens know where the nearest one is.
The shelter entrances have a yellow signa piece of paper almost the size of an A4 page, listing the maximum number of people that can fit.
A senior official at the Taipei agency in charge of shelters says events unfolding in Europe have sparked asense of urgency. “Look at the war in Ukraine,” Abercrombie Young, director of the Building Management Agency, told Reuters. “There is no guarantee that innocent citizens will not be targeted. All citizens must be informed about the crises…We need the shelters in case of an attack by the Chinese Communists,” he adds, explaining why the public must be informed.
Wide air raid drill: Run to shelters with your eyes closed but your mouth open
Last month Taiwan held a large-scale exercise in the event of an air attack throughout its length, for the first time after the interruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the regular preparedness exercises.
Among the instructions citizens received in the event of a missile attack was to go to the underground parking areas of their homes covering their eyes and ears with their hands but keeping their mouths open to minimize the impact from the shock waves.
Some representatives of the civil protection sector argue that more measures are needed.
The authorities are bound by law keep shelters clean and open; but they are not required to equip them with supplies such as food and water.
Parliamentary researchers called in June for shelters to be stocked with emergency supplies.
Vu Enoch of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party says citizens should prepare survival kits to take with them when they go to shelter.
“What’s important is what someone takes with them to be able to stay there for a long time,” Vu says, citing medical supplies and even tools to build a makeshift toilet.
Source: News Beast
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