Members of the alternative military service participated Thursday in the Taipei phase of the annual civil defense drill that this year focuses on wartime preparation and the protection of key infrastructure.
Shen Che-fang (沈哲芳), director-general of the National Conscription Agency, said the alternative program is a type of military service that was included in the government’s All-Out Defense Mobilization and civil defense planning this year.
The purpose is to help gain a better understanding of how each city and county government can help prepare Taiwan for an effective response to possible natural disasters and war scenarios, Shen said.
The civil defense exercises staged in Taipei Thursday were held across various locations, including in the plaza in front of Taipei City Hall and near the Taipei 101 skyscraper, and involved rescuers, volunteers, members of local civil defense units and reservists.
According to the conscription agency, the exercises also featured 144 active and reserve alternative service members who assisted in various simulated tasks, such as helping people evacuate to air shelters, traffic control and medical rescue.
Their participation effectively improved the capacity and resilience of civil defense, it said.
Speaking to reporters, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said this was the city’s first civil defense drill to simulate a wartime disaster scenario in which the armed forces cannot provide assistance.
Chiang said that while everyone wants peace, it is also important to be prepared for all eventualities.
Taipei City Fire Department said the exercises placed special emphasis on air raid evacuation, distribution of supplies, prevention and control of infectious diseases, and disaster rescue.
It was also the first time the Taipei civil defense drill has featured participants from active and reserve alternative military service members.
According to the All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency under the Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan staged its first civil defense drill this year in Taichung on April 13, featuring members of the alternative military service.
Source : Focus Taiwan
