People in Taiwan have been participating in air-raid evacuation drills aimed at preparing for a possible attack by China.
The large-scale exercises began on August 5, simulating an invasion by China.
On Thursday, police in Taipei guided shoppers and others into an underground arcade space near Taipei Station just before the drills began.
When air-raid sirens sounded, people quickly evacuated.
The scenario of this year’s drills included communication disruptions caused by cyberattacks. The communication speeds of smartphones and other devices were temporarily slowed as part of the drills, so that sending social media messages was restricted.
During the drills, drivers were required to pull over onto the roadside and business owners had to close their stores. People who did not cooperate could face fines of up to around 4,400 US dollars.
One participant said practicing evacuations is necessary as Taiwan must be thoroughly prepared for a possible invasion by China.
Taiwan is facing mounting military pressure from China. The administration of President Lai Ching-te aims to enhance the awareness of citizens who need to prepare for possible contingencies.