• Source:JND
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Amid escalating tensions with China, Taiwan has issued a comprehensive new emergency handbook designed to help citizens prepare for crises ranging from natural disasters to a potential Chinese invasion. The handbook, unveiled in September and now being distributed nationwide, marks the first time Taiwanese authorities have included instructions on what to do if civilians encounter enemy soldiers.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence announced that distribution of the booklet will begin this week and continue through January next year. The guide includes detailed information on locating bomb shelters, stockpiling supplies, preparing go-bags, and responding to military threats. It stresses that any announcement claiming Taiwan has surrendered is false.

Clear Instructions For Crisis Situations

“This booklet shows our determination to defend ourselves,” said Lin Fei-fan, Deputy Secretary-General of Taiwan’s National Security Council, who supervised the effort. The guide offers step-by-step instructions on preparing essential items such as water, rice, noodles, medical kits, radio devices, flashlights, and sleeping bags. Citizens are advised to maintain at least a one-week supply of food and household necessities.

In the event of a Chinese invasion, civilians are urged not to panic, avoid filming Taiwanese military movements, and immediately leave areas where military activity is detected. The booklet warns that in wartime, identifying friendly and enemy forces can be difficult, and civilians must prioritise safety over documentation.

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Beijing’s Growing Pressure Triggers Preparedness Moves

Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, faces increasing pressure from China, which claims the island as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control. Under President Xi Jinping, Beijing has intensified military incursions, sending record numbers of warplanes into Taiwan’s air-defence zone while ramping up diplomatic and economic coercion.

Taiwan’s decision to publish and distribute the handbook comes at a time when global security concerns are rising. Sweden and Finland recently issued updated guidance to prepare their own citizens for potential conflict as Europe reassesses its security environment amid the ongoing Ukraine war.

Warnings On Cyber Threats And Chinese Apps

Beyond physical survival, Taiwan’s handbook also highlights cybersecurity risks, warning citizens to avoid using Chinese-made mobile applications such as WeChat, TikTok, DeepSeek, and RedNote. It cautions that devices with Chinese-made cameras may pose privacy threats and could “even be used by the enemy in a crisis.” 

Taiwanese officials say the handbook is a crucial component of the island’s broader national defence strategy. “Given natural disasters such as typhoons and the military threat from China, we want our people to understand that the more prepared we are, the safer we will be,” said Shen Wei-chih, director of the All-Out Defence Mobilisation Agency.

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