TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's primary international gateway, Taoyuan Airport (桃園機場), imposed temporary vehicle and pedestrian restrictions Thursday (July 17) as part of a coordinated regional security exercise. The operation, known as the Urban Resilience Air Defense Drill (城鎮韌性防空演習), encompassed a substantial portion of northern Taiwan. The emergency preparedness activities spanned seven counties and municipalities from Hsinchu in the northwest to Yilan on the northeastern coast, with Taoyuan — home to Taiwan's busiest airport — featuring prominently in the exercise scenario.
Airport officials orchestrated structured evacuation drills between 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. while simultaneously maintaining normal flight operations and departure protocols to minimize travel disruptions. Transportation authorities had previously issued advisories encouraging air travelers to arrive at the facility well ahead of their scheduled flights to avoid potential complications from the security exercise. The defense readiness activities officially commenced at 1:30 p.m. Non-compliant individuals could face substantial fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 (approximately US$1,020 to US$5,102) under Taiwan's Civil Defense Act (民防法) following appropriate warnings.
Airport management specifically addressed concerns of arriving international passengers and individuals waiting to greet incoming travelers. Officials emphasized the importance of carefully monitoring all public address announcements and promptly following any directives issued by airport staff throughout the duration of the security exercise. The guidance aimed to ensure visitor safety while maintaining operational efficiency during the simulated emergency scenario. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$29.4)