To promote a civil defense system that incorporates both disaster relief and auxiliary military duties, the government should issue a "civil defense white paper" every year. The paper should cover updates on policymaking, objectives, implementation, budget, personnel, facilities and local contact information. In addition, the government should also coordinate volunteer organizations such as volunteer firefighters, volunteer police, the Red Cross, the Tzu Chi foundation and others. It should set up a non-governmental "civil defense alliance." This will integrate the power of the people and help promote the government's civil defense development.
In Taiwan's existing civil defense system, responsibilities are not clearly defined and efficiency is hindered by excessive layers of hierarchy. These matters should be clarified to prevent buck-passing between government agencies.
Government agencies and civic organizations should hold civil defense exercises in coordination with the regional military commands, turning the defense of Taiwan and Penghu into "warfare by all citizens." There should be no division between the front line and the rear. Only by participation of all citizens can we successfully deal with both natural disasters and human enemies.
Apart from strengthening its disaster relief capabilities, the military should also integrate the use of civilian agencies in the planning and execution of its exercises in order to accomplish the dual task of "supporting the front line and stabilizing the rear."
Five years ago, the Ministry of the Interior drafted the Civil Defense Bill and sent it to the Legislative Yuan for review. The bill has yet to be passed and the promotion of civil defense continues to be hindered by the lack of a legal basis. In the long run, the government should review and further expand the Civil Defense Law to integrate civil defense agencies with disaster relief units.
To manage this civil defense mechanism, we should set up a cabinet-level civil defense agency, consisting of personnel pulled together from the Atomic Energy Council, Department of Health, Environmental Protection Administration, National Fire Administration, Water Resources Bureaus and other disaster rescue agencies. We can expand the budget for this entity without expanding the overall government staff. Only through a concentrated, efficient use of resources can we respond effectively to both disasters and war.
Chien Chung is a professor of nuclear science at National Tsinghua University.
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