The Formosa Republican Association (FRA), a non-governmental organization, held a series of large civil defense exercises in Nantou County over the weekend, bringing together about 100 participants to practice essential skills aimed at building grassroots resilience against war and natural disasters.
More than 10 civil defense groups from across Taiwan took part in the two-day drills at the National Fire Agency’s Training Center.
On Saturday, the first day of training, participants were divided into groups based on their specialities and assigned to scenarios requiring them to provide medical care to personnel injured in battle, evacuate wounded civilians and manage disruptions from hecklers, among other tasks.
Photo: CNA
Under the direction of a command center, the groups coordinated their actions in response to various scenarios, but appeared flustered at first.
After a break, participants reviewed the drills they had completed and discussed ways to improve.
In subsequent exercises, they handled tasks such as transporting and sheltering the injured with greater composure and confidence.
The second day began with drills focused on transporting injured soldiers from the battlefield to medical stations behind the front lines.
In another scenario, participants searched for and rescued semi-conscious or injured people trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building following a missile strike, transporting them to shelters or emergency medical stations.
Participants also tested their ability to manage an overcrowded medical station overwhelmed with casualties.
Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shyh-yuan (馬士元), National Fire Agency head Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章), members of the Presidential Office’s Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee and several retired military generals observed the drills.
In his remarks at the event, Ma said that all participants were members of private-sector civil defense groups, which is an indication of the public’s determination to resist external threats against Taiwan’s military, freedom and democracy.
He expressed hope for greater public participation in such activities, saying it would help build greater societal resilience.
FRA chairman Jason Chen (陳彥升) said that the threat posed by China was growing, and civilians should be prepared to serve as a backup for the armed forces in the event of war or natural disasters,so that the country can better channel its strengths.
The FRA, a non-governmental organization that promotes political conservatism and national security, organized the event to help society prepare for times when its strength might be needed, Chen said, adding that the association is planning to hold more drills across Taiwan.
On Sunday, Lucy Liu (劉玉皙), a member of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, gave a briefing to staff members from the Japanese, Canadian and Dutch representative offices in Taiwan, who were present to observe the drills.
Liu said there were about 20 civil defense groups in Taiwan — not including the Kuma Academy and the Forward Alliance, which are larger organizations — that offer training in fitness, combat, shelter management, first aid and drone operation.
Chen Jung-pin (陳榮彬), a member of a New Taipei City-based civil defense group, told the Central News Agency that he found the after-action review particularly useful, adding that conducting a joint exercise involving different groups allowed members to network and familiarize themselves with each other’s resources, so they could collaborate instead of “going it alone.”
Yu Tsung-chi (余宗基), a retired army major general and special consultant for the FRA, said that armed forces are training to rapidly assume defensive positions in the event that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army shifts from a military exercise to a surprise attack.
In such a scenario, joint civil defense drills would also help shorten civilian response times and streamline necessary actions, Yu said.
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