Taiwan simulates Chinese attack, slows mobile internet in major drill

Millions in Taiwan were urged to take shelter and mobile internet speeds were deliberately slowed for 30 minutes on Thursday as the island democracy conducted a large-scale drill simulating a Chinese attack. The exercise aimed to prepare the 23 million residents for a potential invasion by Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory.

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Whether it’s going to reflect a total internet shutdown, I think is unlikely. But I think having people get a sense of how it may feel to have an internet disruption is important.

Sirens wailed across the capital, Taipei, at 2:30 p.m. local time, prompting people to seek refuge in underground parking garages, subway stations, and office buildings. Streets that are normally bustling became eerily quiet as police directed traffic to pull over and guided pedestrians into designated shelters. This year marked the first time the drill included a reduction in mobile internet speeds, simulating the impact of Chinese attacks on communication infrastructure.

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I think also to test the resilience of civilian communications and internet systems is very important.

Ben Lewis of the analysis website PLATracker noted the importance of such drills, stating, "Having people get a sense of how it may feel to have an internet disruption is important." He also emphasized the need to "test the resilience of civilian communications and internet systems."

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If I play the role of a patient and actually experience and understand the situation, I think it can help me with some of my emergency responses in the future.

The drill is part of Taiwan's 10-day "Han Kuang" military exercises, which conclude on Friday. These drills involve combat scenarios for both active military personnel and reservists. Earlier in the week, coast guard and navy ships practiced escorting a vessel during a simulated Chinese blockade, and a hospital conducted an exercise in an underground car park to simulate a wartime medical facility.

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The resources would be different so we would simplify everything.