Taiwanese Residents Begin Preparing for War, Conducting Evacuation Drills in Response to Chinese Threats

An occupational therapist in Taiwan, Lim Siong-hua, goes to work every day carrying a backpack filled with books, water, and survival gear. She also chooses to climb 11 flights of stairs before descending to her office on the ninth floor as part of her physical training.

The 37-year-old woman admits she is preparing herself for the possibility of an invasion from China. She wants to be strong enough to save her two young children if an attack truly occurs.

“My biggest priority is to be able to carry my children and run,” she said, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal.

Lim is part of a growing group of Taiwanese residents who are actively preparing for potential conflict. This group supports the government’s efforts to enhance civilian readiness against a possible attack from China.

For President Lai Ching-te and his party, Taiwan’s survival depends not only on military preparedness but also on the readiness of its people, both in facing an invasion and in their willingness to fight back.

However, these efforts face challenges. Taiwan’s high quality of life and the lack of threats in daily life make some segments of society complacent. In a recent report, researchers Amanda Hsiao and Bonnie Glaser assessed that this situation hinders the government in instilling public vigilance.

The political situation also poses obstacles. Lai is still trying to pass a special US$40 billion defence budget that is stalled in parliament. Some opposition figures argue that strengthening defence could provoke China into taking military action.

Taiwan’s status has long been a source of global tension. Since the nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek retreated to the island in 1949 after losing to Mao Zedong’s communist forces in the Chinese civil war, Beijing has continuously claimed Taiwan as its territory. On the other hand, Taiwan considers itself a sovereign nation, although it has not officially declared independence because that is seen as a red line by China.

Surveys show that less than 8% of Taiwanese residents support unification with China. Meanwhile, more than half prefer to maintain the status quo as a self-governing democracy or move towards independence.

The national resilience programme launched by Lai in 2024 is still being developed. The government faces various tasks, from streamlining civil defence bureaucracy, testing disaster responses, to strengthening a healthcare system that is already burdened even in normal conditions.

In addition, critical infrastructure is a concern. Taiwan’s internet connections rely on undersea cables vulnerable to sabotage, while most of its energy is still imported. Diversification in both sectors is a long-term target.

Amid increasing military pressure from China in recent years, more residents are beginning to think about the steps they must take if conflict occurs. Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion has also become an inspiration for some in Taiwanese society.

Some residents are starting to adopt a survivalist lifestyle, such as preparing emergency bags, stockpiling essentials, and learning amateur radio to anticipate internet disruptions.

On the other hand, civil defence groups are emerging in various cities. Some provide advanced training for thousands of people, while others form small community groups in neighbourhoods that regularly hold war simulations and survival training.

One well-known group is the Kuma Academy, founded in part by members of the ruling party in parliament. They aim to instil a “pre-war mentality” in civilians, with a curriculum ranging from first aid to dealing with information warfare.

In the city of Tainan, a small group is developing two main projects: improving emergency shelters and building a wireless communication system that functions even if the internet is cut off.

The founder of the group, Hsieh Chang-ying, even estimates that conflict will occur soon. “We assume war will definitely happen in 2027,” she said.

She views civil defence efforts as a signal to Beijing that Taiwanese residents will not surrender. Hsieh also revealed that government offices managing shelters lack staff and could be overwhelmed if war breaks out.

Her team, consisting of about two dozen people, is developing equipment packages containing guides, markers, and registration forms so local communities can manage shelters independently before government aid arrives.

The Tainan government stated that the current shelter capacity can accommodate 15.6% of the city’s total population of 1.85 million people, exceeding the national target of 10%. Moving forward, the government plans to involve volunteers and evacuees in managing these facilities.

Additionally, Hsieh’s group is developing a Meshtastic-based communication network, an open-source technology that allows messaging without an internet connection.

Surveys show that residents’ preparedness often correlates with political preferences. Supporters of the ruling party tend to be more responsive to government appeals, including preparing emergency bags.

Political dynamics also influence this movement. The failure of an impeachment attempt against dozens of opposition parliament members last year has instead encouraged more residents to participate in civil defence activities.

Several activists who previously focused on political movements are now shifting to efforts to build societal resilience. Liu Yu-hsi, a media economics professor at Shih Hsin University and also a member of the presidential committee, said, “People are redirecting their energy from activities”