At least 30 percent of Ukraine’s power plants and hydraulic infrastructure have reportedly been damaged by massive missile and drone attacks from Russia, causing serious power shortages and forcing the Ukrainian government to ration power in the nation.
The term “infrastructure” refers to the basic facilities necessary to sustain people’s lives. Such facilities ensure a government’s operations in peacetime, while additionally serving the needs of its defense forces during war.
Key infrastructure involves water, electricity, energy, transportation, communications, finance and information.
Infrastructure is often highly vulnerable, covering extensive areas and being prone to destruction, and is relatively difficult to protect.
INCIDENTS IN TAIWAN
In August 2017, natural gas supply was interrupted at CPC Corp, Taiwan’s Datan (大潭) terminal in Taoyuan due to an operational error.
The incident shut down six units of Taiwan Power Co’s Datan Power Plant and caused a blackout affecting nearly 6.88 million households in 17 cities and counties throughout Taiwan. Even Taipei’s Boai Special Zone (博愛特區), which includes the Presidential Office Building, the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies, was affected for the first time ever.
Most incidents in which major infrastructure that is vital to people’s lives is severely damaged are due to natural causes.
The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami not only caused major blackouts in many Japanese cities, but also destroyed a number of roads and bridges, as well as other transportation facilities. The natural disaster also paralyzed public facilities such as the country’s power grid, hospitals and schools.
However, in the war between Russia and Ukraine, key infrastructure has become a main target of Russian attacks.
On Oct. 31, Russia launched more than 50 cruise missiles against targets in many parts of Ukraine, including some electricity and water supply facilities in Kyiv.
The Russian Ministry of Defense later said in a statement that its armed forces had used high-precision, long-range air and sea-based weapons against Ukraine’s military command posts and energy systems, and that the airstrikes hit all designated targets.
In response to the heavy bombardment of its infrastructure, the Ukrainian government on Monday last week announced that it would invoke wartime laws to take control of five “strategically important” companies, including engine and manufacturing firms.
Ukraine launched rolling power rationing in all regions, with three to four hours of power cuts every day. The government has also prepared 1,000 temporary shelters to provide water, electricity and heating to civilians.
The war has taught Taiwan a lesson: If military conflict breaks out across the Taiwan Strait, it might be possible for the Chinese Communist Party to simultaneously attack public facilities in multiple locations, with extensive and continuous attacks potentially affecting the morale of Taiwanese civilians and troops, and their willpower to resist the enemy.
How should Taiwan prevent and potentially respond to attacks on its infrastructure?
This is an important strategic issue that national security agencies should study.
Yao Chung-yuan is a professor and former deputy director of the Ministry of National Defense’s strategic planning department.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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