The reserve command announced yesterday it will add anti-terror operations to this year's Wangan No. 26 anti-air-raid exercise, as part of its efforts to develop capabilities to counter China's "unrestricted warfare" tactics.
The command made the announcement at a press conference it called at the Feitsui Reservoir, the main source of water for metropolitan Taipei.
The Feitsui reservoir was chosen as the site for the press conference because of its relevance to the anti-terror operations that the command has in mind.
The Wangan No. 26 exercise is a regular island-wide drill held annually by the reserve command. It is usually held between May and June.
The exercise used to focus on anti-air-raid operations. In recent years, however, it has been expanded to include all relevant defensive maneuvers -- such as the anti-terror elements to be added this year.
Admiral Chen Ban-chih (陳邦治), chief of the reserve command, explained at the press conference that the command will deal with the protection of major infrastructures such as reservoirs and electrical transmission towers.
"Last July we activated 32 civil defense groups across the island to handle the task. They are to watch out for any suspicious people who show up in the vicinity of places such as reservoirs," Chen said.
"These groups have to figure out how to prevent the water of the Feitsui Reservoir, for instance, from being poisoned by the enemy," he said.
"They will also safeguard major electrical transmission towers around the island. These towers are very likely to become targets for attack by the enemy."
The examples Chen cited for his explanation are the kinds of anti-terror operations that the reserve command will include in the Wangan No. 26 exercise.
They also indicate that the reserve command is trying to develop capabilities to counter China's unrestricted warfare tactics, which include terrorist attacks.
Last year's Wangan No. 25 exercise included a primitive level of anti-terror operations.
That exercise tested the forces' response to enemy troops who were trying to launch a series of surprise attacks on Taipei using the city's underground tunnels.
Chen did not reveal exactly where and when this year's anti-terror exercise will be held.
But one site for the drills could be the Feitsui Reservoir, which is one of the most likely targets for attack by the enemy.
The reserve command has already established one civil defense group, which is divided into several squadrons, in the vicinity of the reservoir.
The group is currently headed by a retired army major-general, who was once the leader of an armored brigade.
Members of the group are all retired military personnel.
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