The last military simulation drill of President Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) presidency began yesterday, with president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) not in attendance.
The annual exercise, code-named Yushan, simulated various crises. It began on Chen’s order yesterday morning and will run through Sunday.
Television footage showed Chen and Cabinet ministers entering the Yuanshan command center in Dazhi (大直), Taipei City, in the morning, while Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) was stationed at the Longtan (龍潭) command center in Taoyuan County.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUN, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen was later transported by armored trucks to a command center in Taoyuan, where he held a video conference with Lu in response to the simulated crisis. This year’s scenario takes place in 2020, with the People’s Liberation Army deploying an aircraft carrier and launching a full-scale attack on the east coast.
The exercise consists of three stages. The first stage began yesterday and ends today. Participants did not receive advance notice as to when the exercise would begin. The first stage included the president’s call for a national security meeting, an address to the nation on TV and radio and an emergency news conference held by the premier.
The second stage, to be held on Thursday and Friday, also with no exact schedule provided in advance, will test infrastructure security at five critical facilities in Taipei City, Taipei County and Ilan County.
The exercise will include Internet security; coordination between the military, law enforcement and the coast guard; and prevention of fires at and recovery of key infrastructure.
The final stage, which will begin at 10pm on Saturday and end at 1pm the following day, will focus on crisis management, decision-making and planning and communication between government agencies.
Chen had invited Ma to observe the military drill organized by the National Security Council, but Ma declined to attend. Ma’s spokesman said the president-elect’s schedule was full.
The exercise was then postponed at the recommendation of Lu to accommodate Ma’s schedule in the hope he would be able to attend.
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