The central and local governments are to conduct a joint counterterrorism exercise in March, an official said.
The central government has tentatively scheduled the Counterterrorism Security Management Live-Troop Exercise to run from March to May at sites that are to be used during the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The official said that the Ministry of the Interior has made plans for the counterterrorism-focused Chin Hua Exercise to incorporate contingency responses to potential terrorist acts during the Universiade, including war games and field exercises using troops and police units.
Nearly 5,000 athletes from 102 nations and regions are expected to participate in the Universiade, which would dwarf the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, the official said.
Officials anticipate a significant increase in potential terror-related threats and are therefore stressing national security countermeasures, the official said.
To improve cooperation between national security and civil administration authorities during the Universiade, the government has over the past year held symposiums with international security experts, training sessions for event staff, security management study groups and war games, the official said.
The Executive Yuan’s Office of Homeland Security this month inspected venues for the Universiade being organized by the Taipei, New Taipei City, Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City governments.
In the event of a major terrorist attack that qualifies as a “Class 2” emergency, the government would mandate central government agencies — such as the interior ministry — to activate an early emergency response command center, the official said.
If a “Class 1” emergency arises, the Executive Yuan and National Security Bureau are to establish an emergency response command center run by the deputy premier, the official added.
Special forces units from the armed forces, National Police Agency and the Coast Guard Administration were placed on heightened alert after last month’s terrorist strikes in Paris.
The National Police Agency is beefing up security for events attended by large numbers of people across the nation, including political rallies, the official added.
The Republic of China’s flag on Friday was displayed for the second time in a video purportedly released by the Islamic State group. The first time the flag was shown in such a video was on Nov. 24.
Additional reporting by CNA
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