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Taiwanese Lawmaker Addresses Rumors on Upcoming Resilience Drill

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Taiwan's legislator Lin Chu-yin is clarifying public concerns about the upcoming "2026 Urban Resilience Air Defense Exercise."
  • She addressed rumors about the exercise excluding southern Taiwan and assured that network slowdowns during the drill would not cause a complete internet outage.
  • Lin emphasized that similar resilience drills are conducted in many democratic nations, including Japan, South Korea, and Nordic countries, to enhance safety through preparation.

Taiwanese legislator Lin Chu-yin is actively working to dispel misinformation surrounding the upcoming "2026 Urban Resilience Air Defense Exercise." The drill, scheduled to coincide with the annual Han Kuang exercise, will for the first time simulate a crisis involving disrupted mobile networks.

Lin addressed several public concerns, refuting claims that the exercise would not take place in southern Taiwan. She confirmed that the drills are planned to progressively expand across all cities and counties nationwide. A major point of contention has been the potential impact of network slowdowns, with many fearing it could lead to a complete internet blackout and compromise safety. Lin clarified that the simulated slowdowns are not equivalent to a network shutdown. She assured the public that during the brief 30-minute drill period, fixed-line, home, and office Wi-Fi, as well as phone and SMS services, would remain unaffected.

More preparation during peacetime means more security assurance during critical moments.

— Lin Chu-yinEmphasizing the importance of regular drills for national security.

Responding to criticisms suggesting that such drills are characteristic of authoritarian states, Lin pointed out that numerous democratic countries conduct similar resilience exercises. She cited examples including Japan, South Korea, India, and several Nordic nations. Lin stressed the importance of regular drills, stating, "More preparation during peacetime means more security assurance during critical moments." She reiterated that the simulated network slowdown is not a complete outage and that preparation is key to safety.

The legislator's efforts aim to preemptively counter rumors and provide clear, factual information to the public. By highlighting international precedents and emphasizing the limited scope and duration of the simulated disruptions, Lin seeks to foster understanding and reduce anxiety about the upcoming exercise. The initiative underscores Taiwan's commitment to enhancing its defense readiness and urban resilience through practical drills, while also prioritizing transparent communication with its citizens.

Network slowdowns are not a complete outage, and preparation is key to safety!

— Lin Chu-yinClarifying the nature of simulated network disruptions during the exercise.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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