Ian Chen Tsung-yen, director of the Institute of Political Science at National SunTsungYat-sen University, said the civil exercise is crucial for the island's defensivecapabilities in light of escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
"China's harassment via air and sea is getting worse," Chen told Nikkei Asia. "Itis very important to increase the Taiwanese public's awareness over Beijing'saggression."
The professor added that "if a military conflict breaks out, followed by disasters,our military won't have the capacity to conduct rescue missions. It will rely onour civil defense capability."