Yesterday's early-morning air-raid drill was a success, the Ministry of National Defense said.
"We can always learn something new or realize how much we can improve through each drill," Spokesman Rear Admiral Wu Chi-fang (吳季方) said yesterday. "I think the drill was quite successful."
Yesterday's drill was carried out between 5am and 5:30am in Keelung, Ilan County, Taipei County, Taipei City, Taoyuan County, Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City.
Pedestrians were directed to the closest shelters while motorists were ordered to pull over and also directed to shelters.
Motorists on freeways were allowed to continue their trips but entrances to freeways were blocked during the drill.
Previously, air-raid drills have been held in the afternoon. The ministry carried out the drill in the early morning on this occasion because the military wanted to simulate an early morning strike against Taiwan.
At Taipei City's Youth Park yesterday morning, senior citizens who woke up early for exercises reportedly did not follow the directions by the police and continued their activities.
Wu said he was sorry to hear about this, but the nation's air-raid drills would not stop because of frustrations over those who don't cooperate.
"I can only say that we will continue to educate our fellow citizens as to the importance of the drill," the spokesman said.
Because of the drill, all local markets, including fish, fruit, vegetable and flower stalls, were temporarily closed. Early morning commuters traveling to work were also interrupted by the drill.
Taoyuan County Commissioner Chu Li-lun (朱立倫) gave a positive note to yesterday's drill.
"It was quite different because we have never had the experience of an early morning air-raid drill," Chu said.
"But it is quite important for the public to think about and practice the situation of the enemy attacking us in the early morning," Chu said.
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