The All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency released on Tuesday its updated civil defense handbook, in which responses to wartime scenarios have become the central focus.
In the event of an invasion by China, Taiwan’s vulnerability to a blockade would profoundly limit the possibility for civilians to flee to neighboring countries. This territorial trap implies that Taiwanese may become directly involved in war efforts — whether through rescue operations, countering psychological warfare, or assisting in military operations.
Taiwan’s security environment forces civilians to transition from passive actors to becoming active supporters of the national defense effort. This reality requires not only that civilians learn critical skills and embody defined supporting roles, but also that the government provides training, materials and the infrastructure needed to transform society into an effective and well-prepared support system.
While more efforts are still needed, Taiwan is steadily building a more resilient society, one that is increasingly prepared to defend its future.
One of the main goals of China’s hybrid warfare is to break the morale and resilience of the Taiwanese. Conscious of this objective, Taiwan’s government understands the value that a resilient society represents during war efforts and has therefore worked to improve it.
Toward civil defense
Firstly, under former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency was created in January 2022. Its primary mission is to enhance the military reserve system and, as a secondary priority, to improve the civilian defense framework.
More recently, in June 2024, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced the establishment of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, with the intention to reinforce Taiwan’s resilience and preparedness. The Committee aims to train civilian forces to protect critical infrastructures, form supply distribution systems and support military operations.
The Committee set the bar high during its first meeting, to train 400,000 civilians to support military operations when necessary. Moreover, NGOs also play a central role in raising civilian readiness through training and simulations that complement the efforts promoted by the government.
The recent drill on March 27 mobilized a wide spectrum of civil society actors, ranging from students to religious groups and the private sector. This highlighted the commitment of the whole society to actively participate in national defense.
The path toward a more resilient society is backed by substantive financial support, as recently shown by the special budget of NT$150 billion (approximately US$4.9 billion) aimed at reinforcing civil-military cooperation. Evacuation centers and medical facilities are also being built around Taiwan, while critical infrastructure and strategic material reserves are being reinforced.
The goal is to create a society that will act in unity in times of crisis, so that resources and efforts are shared to enhance the national defense and effectively face any challenges. By transforming Taiwanese from passive actors into prepared contributors, Taiwan better aligns its capabilities with its needs.
However, despite all these measures, several gaps remain and require urgent attention.
Falling short
Civil defense has been historically overlooked by the government, leaving it unprepared to properly face its security environment. Civil-military relations are also influenced by Taiwan’s authoritarian past, which weakens a sense of collective effort.
Not surprisingly, the political division that is poisoning Taiwan also impacts the transformation of the civil defense framework. The KMT and the DPP regularly clash over civil defense issues.
Two visions are opposed –– on one side, the KMT believes that efforts to raise war preparedness and resilience increase the likelihood of a war outbreak. Meanwhile, the DPP advocates for increasing defense resources and accuses the KMT of destabilizing Taiwan’s military capabilities.
This situation is exacerbated by the KMT’s dominance over localities, which play a central role in the organization and effective function of civil defense. This political competition undermines the civil readiness, with both parties competing for antagonistic goals and unwilling to cooperate.
Taiwan’s civil defense may also be jeopardized by Taiwan’s inherent critical weaknesses. Energy and communication sectors remain highly vulnerable and could undermine the efforts provided by civil society actors during crises.
Finally, rigid structural organization, aging volunteers and recruitment problems are challenges that must be overcome to ensure a robust civil defense system.
Ultimately, building a truly resilient society will require moving beyond political polarization and rallying around a common goal –– protecting Taiwan’s future. Political divergences are unavoidable, but they must never come at the expense of the lives and security of millions of Taiwanese.
United front
While Taiwan’s civil society members are not yet ready to face war, it would be wrong to designate them as the problem. It would also be extremely dishonest to expect them to face such a challenge by themselves.
The Taiwanese must be supported by the international community in order to keep morale high and reinforce the whole-of-society resilience. Taiwanese willingness to fight for their nation remains high, but it must be backed by concrete measures to ensure that this resilience does not break.
This not only serves Taiwan, but also benefits the international community, whose reliance on its semiconductor sector will be deeply impacted if Taiwanese society collapses.
Furthermore, learning from other contexts can help Taiwan enhance its civil defense. For example, Ukrainian civil society has contributed to war efforts by raising funds for many brigades, supporting asymmetric warfare and complementing the work of government bodies.
Countering Russia’s disinformation tactics has also been a great achievement from Ukrainian civil society. Sweden and its “total defense” strategy represents another example from which to draw lessons to build a more resilient society. Taiwan must take lessons from other countries and adapt these tools to its own environment.
The president’s declaration that “with determination, there is no need to worry. With confidence, our people can rest assured,” is indicative of the growing importance that civilian defense, readiness, and resilience embody in the national security grand scheme.
Taiwan now needs a clear direction regarding how civil defense can be efficiently implemented, used, and supported. A civil society that can ensure the continuation of critical infrastructures, support the military and keep morale high would serve as a tremendous deterrent power.
