Taipei
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Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced this week that it will distribute booklets to the island’s 23 million residents on how to withstand natural disasters, emergencies, and even Chinese aggression.
The handbook, released in September, includes guidelines on what supplies to stockpile at home and in carry-on bags, as well as instructions on what to do if you encounter enemy soldiers.
In the event of a military invasion, “claims that the government has surrendered or that the nation has been defeated are false,” the booklet states.
Taiwan is an autonomous democracy, but China considers it its own territory. The Chinese government has vowed to one day occupy the country by force if necessary. Under leader Xi Jinping, China has increased military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan, regularly sending fighter jets and warships around the island.
Taiwan’s book comes after Sweden and Finland updated guidance for their citizens on how to survive the war earlier this year, as NATO allies ramp up defense measures in the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict.
“I want the people to understand that considering natural disasters such as typhoons and military threats from China, the more prepared we are, the safer we will be,” said Shen Wei-chi, head of Taiwan’s General Defense Mobilization Bureau, at a press conference.
The handbook recommends stocking up on a week’s worth of household items such as noodles and rice, and keeping a go bag with a compact sleeping bag by your front door in case of an emergency.
It also outlined the types of military threats Taiwan could face, ranging from sabotage of submarine cables, unilateral no-fly zone declarations, and full-scale invasion.
Because civilians can have difficulty distinguishing between friend and foe, the handbook advises civilians to leave as soon as possible if they spot military activity nearby. It also asks citizens not to take photos or videos of Taiwan’s own military operations to ensure operational integrity.
The handbook also warns of the cybersecurity risks of Chinese-made mobile applications such as DeepSeek, WeChat, TikTok, and RedNote, as well as the potential privacy violations of some Chinese-branded devices with cameras, stating that they “could even be used by adversaries in times of crisis.”
The Ministry of Defense announced it will print about 11 million copies to reach about 9.8 million households in Taiwan, including 105,000 copies in English for foreign consulates, media outlets, and Taiwanese residents.
Distribution of the booklets will begin this week and is expected to be completed by January next year, the ministry added.
