Taiwan's First Tabletop Exercise: Preparing for Potential Chinese Military Escalations

On December 28, Taiwan's presidential office conducted a unique "tabletop" exercise to simulate potential military escalations by China. This drill, involving various government agencies beyond the armed forces, highlights Taiwan's urgency in preparing for an assertive China. President Lai Ching-te emphasized the importance of testing governmental responses to potential cross-strait tensions.

Exercise Details

The simulation included central and local government units and civil groups, aiming to verify the preparedness of each agency in extreme scenarios. President Lai stated, "We believe that as long as the government and society are prepared, we can adequately respond to different threats - including natural disasters and authoritarian expansionism."

China's Stance and Recent Activities

China's ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as its territory, despite never having controlled it, and insists on reunification, potentially by force. Recently, there has been an increase in Chinese military activities around Taiwan, including naval and aircraft operations. China conducted two large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in 2024.

Simulation Scenarios

The exercise simulated two scenarios: "high-intensity" grey-zone warfare tactics by China and Taiwan being "on the brink of conflict." Government agencies had to react immediately without prior preparation, testing their ability to ensure societal functioning during crises.

Key Takeaways

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and other officials led the exercise. Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang noted the need to combat disinformation during crises, especially during outages. Plans to recruit and train 50,000 volunteers for disaster relief by next year were announced. Lin Fei-fan, a deputy secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, highlighted the exercise's importance in strengthening Taiwan's democratic resilience.