2026 Air Defense Drill Approaches! 7 Cities and Counties to Participate on August 10: Network Slowdown, 3 Major Changes Explained

The 2026 Urban Resilience (Air Defense) Drill for the central region will take place tomorrow (August 10) from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM. During the exercise, air raid alerts, evacuation drills, and necessary traffic controls will be implemented. The Taichung City Police Department urges citizens to follow the guidance of police and civil defense personnel to ensure the drill's success.

2026 Urban Resilience (Air Defense) Drill: 3 Key Changes

The Taichung City Police Department notes that this year’s drill adopts a “pre-announced, regionally coordinated, simultaneous timing” approach. Compared to previous years, three major changes are introduced:

- **Revised Timing**: The drill is scheduled from 14:30 to 15:00. - **Vehicle Stop and Immediate Evacuation**: At 2:30 PM, upon the alert, all activities and business operations must cease immediately. Citizens should enter air raid shelters, basements, or sturdy buildings for shelter. - **Mobile Network Speed Reduction Drill**: During the exercise, mobile internet services may experience slowdowns or disruptions, affecting video streaming, video calls, photo uploads, mobile payments, and cloud services. However, voice calls, SMS, and indoor fixed internet (Wi-Fi) will remain functional.

Is Network Slowdown the Same as a Complete Outage? What to Do If Internet Doesn’t Recover After the Drill?

The National Communications Commission (NCC) clarifies that this drill only reduces mobile network transmission speeds; voice call functionality remains fully operational. Emergency calls such as 110 (police) and 119 (fire/rescue) are unaffected. SMS and Disaster Prevention Alert Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) messages can also be received normally.

| Item | Status During Drill | NCC Recommendations | |------|----------------------|----------------------| | Mobile Network | Significantly reduced speed | Minimize non-essential usage; switch to fixed networks (Wi-Fi/cable) | | Online Transactions/Payments | Likely to time out or fail | Conduct before or after drill; download essential data in advance | | E-tickets/Maps | Slow loading or failure to load | Save screenshots, download offline maps, or obtain paper tickets | | Emergency Communications | Voice calls, SMS, CBS remain normal | 110 and 119 emergency calls function normally | | Post-Drill Recovery | If speed doesn’t auto-recover | Enable and disable airplane mode, or restart the device |

Evacuation Principles and Traffic Regulations

Evacuation should follow the principle: “underground over ground, indoor over outdoor, stay away from windows and doors, avoid hazardous materials.” Citizens must not linger or film on streets. Except for emergency medical, fire, and official duty vehicles, all pedestrians and vehicles must comply with restrictions and evacuate. Public transportation (airports, ports, railways, HSR, MRT, and highway buses) will operate normally, but passengers must follow on-site instructions for evacuation after disembarking.

Can You Go Out During the Drill? What Are the Penalties for Non-Compliance?

Individuals or groups who refuse to comply with police or civil defense guidance during the drill may face penalties. Under Article 21 of the Civil Defense Act and Article 12 of the Air Defense Drill Implementation Guidelines, failure to follow drill orders will first be addressed with warnings. Continued non-compliance may result in fines of NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 under Article 25 of the Civil Defense Act.

Download Maps in Advance; Building Security Should Assist in Opening Shelters

The Taichung City Police Department advises citizens to download the “Police Service APP” or “Fire & Disaster Prevention e-Point” app in advance to locate nearby air raid shelters. Save offline maps and screenshots. Building management committees, security personnel, and residents are urged to cooperate by opening basements and shelter spaces to guide evacuees, enhancing overall urban protection.

2026 Urban Resilience (Air Defense) Drill: Central Region Participants on August 10 (Monday)

The drill is conducted in two phases: central and northern regions.

- **August 10 (Monday) – Central Region**: Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City - **August 13 (Thursday) – Northern Region**: Keelung City, New Taipei City, Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, Yilan County

Both phases run from 14:30 to 15:00.

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Advisory: Complete Ticket Collection in Advance

The central region drill begins at 2:30 PM on August 10. A key highlight is the first-ever simultaneous “mobile network slowdown” drill, which will significantly reduce mobile connectivity in the exercise zone. THSR confirms that trains and stations, including Chiayi Station, will operate normally. However, online booking and app-based ticket collection may be affected. Passengers are urged to collect tickets in advance to avoid travel disruptions.

### THSR Operations and External Transport

- **Train and Station Operations**: All trains run on schedule; ticket counters and gates remain open. - **External Transport**: Shuttle buses, express buses, and taxis at HSR stations will be temporarily suspended during the drill. - **On-Site Guidance**: Passengers must follow instructions from military police, police, and station staff for temporary waiting or evacuation within stations.

### Network Slowdown May Disrupt Ticketing: THSR Lists Affected Functions

- “T-EX Mobile Ticketing” App: Online payments and ticket collection may fail. - Schedule inquiries: Online access may be interrupted. - Digital customer service and onboard sales: Digital support suspended; credit card purchases on trains unavailable.