TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) inspected Kaohsiung's urban resilience exercise on Friday (Aug. 7), the final day of the first combined civil defense and Han Kuang military drill (漢光演習) in the southern city. The three-day exercise tested disinformation response, medical facility relocation, and civilian mobilization across 26 sites citywide.
The exercise mobilized 439 active and reserve substitute service personnel to verify Taiwan's disaster response capabilities, Kaohsiung city officials said.
Hsiao was accompanied by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) and Minister without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng (季連成). "Exercises are not about pursuing a perfect performance, but about finding areas for improvement through continuous practice," Hsiao told reporters.
The vice president outlined three inspection priorities. These included verifying that command systems can maintain operations under high pressure, testing civilian force integration, and ensuring medical systems can continue functioning during emergencies.
Hsiao emphasized that true resilience lies not in any single capability. It requires integrating multiple capabilities to rapidly adapt, consolidate resources, and maintain operations under extreme pressure.
In Gushan District (鼓山區), reserve military counseling personnel conducted "disinformation rebuttal" drills at Nanyang Elementary School (楠陽國小). The exercise simulated fabricated videos claiming military commanders had signed surrender documents and ordered troops to cease resistance.
Reserve personnel explained that the videos were AI-generated fake information and cited Ministry of National Defense clarifications. They urged residents not to believe or share unverified content.
Personnel also used motorcycles to distribute posters and infographics at street corners, the Liberty Times reported.
Hsiao's inspection began at the Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau, where she reviewed the Joint Response Command and Control Center and learned about backup facility planning. She then visited the Qianzhen District Office to observe the Disaster Coordination Center's live drill.
At Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (高雄榮民總醫院), Hsiao received briefings on medical operational resilience and inspected underground alternative medical spaces. The hospital set up triage stations, emergency treatment rooms, burn isolation tents, pharmacies, and blood banks in basement areas.
Hospital Director Chen Jin-Shuen (陳金順) said the facility, the region's only public medical center, had conducted repeated simulations. "We are confident that when emergencies occur, we can respond quickly and handle them immediately," Chen said.
In Qianzhen District (前鎮區), officials simulated a bombing scenario with residents flooding to a relief station at Qianzhen High School.
An 80-year-old man surnamed Wu became the first person cited for violating the Civil Defense Act (民防法). Police stopped Wu at an intersection in Qianzhen District at 10:15 a.m. He cursed at officers and continued through the restricted area before being stopped again, UDN reported.
Wu faces a fine of up to NT$150,000 (around US$4,600) under Article 25 of the Civil Defense Act.
Following amendments to the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act, more than 300 townships and districts across Taiwan have established Disaster Coordination Centers, Chi said.
The urban resilience exercise is part of Taiwan's effort to strengthen national resilience under President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, Hsiao said. "Being prepared makes us safer," she added. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$32.28)