12 March 2011

Taiwan: Wan-an air-raid drill to be restored

At the routine press reference, the Ministry of Defense illustrated “Executive Plan for National Defense Drill” and “Executive Plan for Centennial Disaster Prevention Drill.” Major Luo Shao-he, Acting military speaker, noted that Wan-an No. 34 air-raid drill of this year would jointly take place with Executive Yuan’s disaster prevention drill, and the practice of air-raid drill would be restored to keep people alert.
 
Luo pointed out this year’s Wan-an air-raid drill would focus on the relief and prevention of disasters to cope with the prevalent disasters resulting from the extreme global climate. It would be held jointly with Executive Yuan’s disaster prevention drill to test the relief system, boost the efficiency of relief work from local governments and ensure the security of people’s lives as well as property.
 
Major General Cai Zhong-cheng, Chief of Department of National Defense, noted that the centennial Wan-an air-raid drill would be led by the local governments for the first time and would be practiced through three phases: strategic speculation, comprehensive practice and nationwide anti-air-raid, highlighting the comprehensive relief and the joint operation of “three reports” among city or county governments, to test their efficiency in cooperation, mobilization, defense, relief and prevention of disasters.
 
According to Major General Lu Qian-ti, Executive of Department of War and Strategy, the “nationwide anti-air-raid” phase would be undertaken from May to June in seven districts all over Taiwan. The 30-minute- evacuation drill would take place with alarms in advance, each district at different time. It would be practiced under the catalogs of information communication, giving of alarm, testing of alarm system, evacuation of people and traffic regulation. The first drill is to take place on May, 18 in the northern Taiwan. In order not to interfere with people’s work, it would be practiced around noon. People are expected to be cooperative with the evacuation and traffic regulation.