How Taiwan's Internet Strategy Supposed to Work Against China

Commuters wait behind a closed metro gate during Taiwan’s air raid drill, testing civilian preparedness amid fears of conflict escalation.

By Sakshi.

New Delhi, August 13: Taiwan slowed internet services for 30 minutes in parts of Taipei and six other cities on Thursday under its annual Han Kuang military exercises, aimed at simulating a response to a possible Chinese military invasion. The drill involved civilians, local governments and emergency services to test Taiwan’s preparedness for real-world conflict situations.

Telecom operators were asked to restrict mobile internet speed to 256 Kbps, making it difficult to exchange anything beyond text messages. Under normal circumstances, residents in major cities have access to 5G services.

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te apologised to the public for the inconvenience. “We ask for your understanding and support, as this is a necessary drill,” he said.

Taiwan’s Han Kuang drills disrupted internet and public transport as civilians joined simulations of a possible Chinese invasion scenario. (Representative, Generated Using AI)

What problems did people face during the drills?

Taiwan has increased the intensity of the Han Kuang drills, involving more reservists and civilians and focusing on real-world scenarios. Previously, urban resilience drills in Taipei largely went unnoticed because they caused little disruption. For example, during earlier air-raid drills, passengers continued moving through metro stations despite the exercises.

This year, integrating civilians and coordinating with local governments were key parts of the exercises, according to the Taipei Times.

At a Taipei Metro station on Thursday afternoon, passengers waited to be released after the station gates were shut as part of an air-raid simulation.

Lai also visited a hospital where authorities simulated the relocation of critical operations to underground facilities as part of the drills.

Taiwan is stepping up its defence exercises and military purchases amid heightened tensions with China, which claims the island as its territory.

China sends military aircraft, Coast Guard ships and other vessels towards Taiwan on a daily basis and conducts large-scale military exercises around the island from time to time.

Between Wednesday and Thursday morning, 18 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval vessels operated around Taiwan, the island’s Defence Ministry said.

(With inputs from news agency Associated Press, AP)