During military exercises, travelers must cooperate; violators of outdoor restrictions may face fines up to NT$150,000

By MOOK Travel Family (compiled & reported)

The "Joint Civil-Military Air Defense (Wan’an No. 42) Exercise" was launched on May 27, 2019,The Ministry of National Defense carries out these drills to raise threat awareness, train in air defense procedures, ensure preparedness of defense installations, reduce potential airstrike damage, and protect public safety, in line with the Civil Defense Act and air defense exercise plans. The drills are treated as real combat scenarios. Foreign tourists unaware of the situation are urged to cooperate accordingly.

The Wan’an Exercise takes place between May 27 and 30, covering seven regions: northern, central, southern, eastern Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. Conducted with prior notice and regional synchronization, the 30-minute session runs from 13:30 to 14:00, involving threat alerts, siren activations, civilian and vehicle evacuation, traffic controls, and disaster response drills. Those violating exercise regulations during the event will be penalized under Article 25 of the Civil Defense Act, facing fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000.

The alarm sequence begins with one long tone, two short tones, a 15-second long tone, and five seconds of short tones, each interval lasting five seconds, totaling 115 seconds; the all-clear is signaled by a 90-second long tone.

Upon hearing the exercise alarm, all doors and windows must be closed, and lights turned off; pedestrians and vehiclesmust follow the directions of military police, civilian defense personnel, or seek immediate shelter; high-speed rail, railwayand expressway traffic may continue normally. Passengers on high-speed rail, Taiwan Railways, or the metro must disembark and follow station guidance for evacuation.

It is advised to set off earlier than usual if you have medical appointments, official business, or flights scheduled.

The regional schedules for the Wan’an Exercises are as follows:

● Northern Region: May 27 (Monday) 13:30–14:00