TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A small-scale exercise to test Taiwan's civil defense and disaster preparedness will be held in Tainan on March 27. 

The Global Cooperation and Training Framework workshop on whole-of-society resilience building, preparation, and response held its opening ceremony Tuesday, UDN. The event drew 264 participants, including 61 foreign guests from 30 countries, marking the first time GCTF discussions have centered on the theme of society-wide defense resilience.

The newspaper cited a national security official as saying that since President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) took office in May last year, he has emphasized the importance of society-wide resilience. The official said the process must be carried out step by step. More international experts and scholars will be invited to explain the concept to the government and the public.

The official said that international pundits often ask whether Taiwanese people have the “will to fight.” The official said it is important to recognize that the real question is, "Do we have the will to prepare?" 

This determination is reflected in the government’s push for society-wide resilience, which is not only aimed at responding to high-intensity conflicts but also at strengthening the ability to handle natural disasters.  

At the Presidential Office's second Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee meeting held late last year, Lai announced that a small-scale field exercise would take place during the third meeting in March. The official said the preliminary plan is to conduct a small-scale exercise in Tainan on March 27, followed by urban resilience exercises from April to July. 

These drills will be integrated with the Min An and Wan An exercises, with further testing conducted during the Han Kuang military exercises in July. In addition, an earthquake disaster prevention drill is scheduled for September.

The official said these exercises will educate the public on key survival measures, such as how to reach air raid shelters, find cover, and follow emergency protocols. Policy awareness campaigns will also be conducted, focusing on disaster preparedness kits, the use of relevant mobile apps, and the distribution of civil defense handbooks.