Kaohsiung Sirens Wail as Taiwan Tests Civil Defense in Air-Raid Drill
Kaohsiung held a 30-minute air-raid drill, halting traffic and transit, as Taiwan's VP inspected hospital readiness.
Air-raid sirens echoed across the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung on Friday morning as authorities conducted a simulated airborne attack drill, bringing the city to a standstill for 30 minutes.
Police officers directed car drivers and motorcyclists to pull over to the side of the road, while the city's metro system also halted operations as part of the exercise. In underground transport facilities, personnel guided people to crouch down and protect their heads.
Taiwan's Vice President, Bi-Khim Hsiao, visited the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital during the drill to inspect its preparations and readiness for a potential airborne assault.
The drill is part of the annual Huang Kuang exercises, which began on Wednesday and will run through August 14 at various locations across the island. The live-fire exercises are designed to test the Taiwanese army's ability to sustain 24-hour defense operations and counter China's "gray-zone tactics"—actions that stop short of open warfare.
This year's exercises emphasize the flexibility and resilience of Taiwan's military and society, rather than focusing primarily on showcasing advanced weaponry. Analysts suggest the structure of the drills indicates closer coordination with the U.S. military in response to China's ongoing military pressure.