Unveiled in September, the detailed handbook breaks new ground by including explicit instructions on what citizens should do if they encounter enemy soldiers
Taiwan is set to begin distributing millions of civil defence handbooks to households across the island this week, an unprecedented move designed to prepare residents for potential emergencies, including the prospect of a Chinese attack.
The initiative marks the latest effort by the democratically governed island to ready its population for crises ranging from natural disasters to a military invasion, as Beijing ramps up political and military pressure to assert its sovereignty claims.
Preparation for ‘Everyday Coercion’
Unveiled in September, the detailed handbook breaks new ground by including explicit instructions on what citizens should do if they encounter enemy soldiers and categorically stresses that any claims of Taiwan’s surrender must be considered false. It also provides crucial guidance on locating bomb shelters and assembling essential emergency kits.
Lin Fei-fan, Deputy Secretary-General of Taiwan’s National Security Council, who oversaw the effort, framed the distribution as a message of resilience. “This booklet shows our determination to defend ourselves,” Lin said. “We need people across the Taiwan Strait to understand that there will be a huge cost if China makes the wrong decision because Taiwanese people have the resolve and very clear commitment in defending ourselves.”
Lin added that Taiwan is already dealing with a hybrid warfare campaign from China, encompassing cyberattacks, infiltration, misinformation, and routine military incursions. He described the situation as “D-day versus everyday,” clarifying: “D-day actually means invasion. Obviously we are not in the D-day mode. But we are facing the so-called everyday coercion.”
Scenarios Outlined
The guide outlines a grim spectrum of scenarios Taiwan could face, from sabotage of undersea cables and cyberattacks to inspections of Taiwanese vessels by an “enemy nation” as a prelude to conflict, and even a full-scale invasion.
Distribution will commence this week, targeting more than 9.8 million mailboxes island-wide. Lin confirmed that versions in English and other foreign languages would soon follow. Following the roll-out, the government plans promotional campaigns to assist citizens in preparing their personal emergency kits.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has consistently refused to rule out the use of force to take control. Taiwan’s government firmly rejects these territorial claims, maintaining that the island’s future is for the Taiwanese people alone to decide.
