Taiwan releases wartime survival manual
Taiwan publishes a handbook that advises people to prepare for a potential attack, such as finding bomb shelters or stockpiling emergency supplies.
“The people can use the handbook as an emergency response guide in the event of a military crisis or natural disaster,” Taiwan Self-Defense Agency spokesman Sun Li-fang said today.
This is the first time Taiwan has released such a manual. Drawing on similar guidelines from Sweden and Japan, the handbook shows residents how to find a bomb shelter via a mobile phone app and what to do in an emergency, including how distinguish air raid sirens.
“This guide is intended to make the public better prepared before war or disaster strikes,” said Liu Tai-yi, an official with the Taiwan Defense Agency’s Comprehensive Defense Mobilization Agency.
Taiwan’s F-16 fighter (left) monitors mainland China’s H-6 bombers in 2020. Photo: Taiwan Defense Agency.
The handbook also includes information on basic survival skills for civilians during air raids, major fires, house collapses, power outages, and natural disasters. “We hope people remember safe havens,” Liu added.
The move by the Taiwan Self-Defense Agency comes amid an escalation of tensions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. In recent years, the Chinese military has continuously increased military pressure on Taiwan by traditional and non-traditional methods. In addition to flights close to the island with a record high number of aircraft, the Chinese military also conducted many landing exercises to occupy the coast near Taiwan.
Last year, Taiwan increased the training regime for reservists and purchased military equipment such as fighters and anti-ship missiles. The island is also considering extending its mandatory military service to 12 months. Currently all eligible men in Taiwan must undergo basic military training lasting four months.
China has always considered Taiwan as a territory awaiting reunification and has not ruled out the use of force. The United States does not establish formal relations with the island of Taiwan, but is the largest supplier of weapons for the island’s defense. US officials are pushing to modernize Taiwan’s self-defense forces to make it harder for the Chinese military to attack the island.
The US State Department on April 5 approved a potential contract to provide technical support, training and equipment for Taiwan’s Patriot air defense system with a total value of $ 95 million. China criticized the move, accusing the US of undermining bilateral relations and undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Huyen Le (According to AFP)
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
