Executive Yuan Activates Cross-Ministry Response Center for Mobile Network Speed Reduction Drill; Chi Lien-cheng as Commander: Ensuring Public Rights and Uninterrupted Services

The '2026 Urban Resilience (Air Defense) Exercise' features the first-ever mobile network speed reduction drill. Today (August 10), the drill covers Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi City, and Chiayi County. The Executive Yuan has activated a cross-ministry response center at the Taipei Joint Disaster Prevention Center, with Minister without Portfolio Chi Lien-cheng serving as commander. Chi emphasized that, as this is the first such drill, all possible scenarios must be anticipated and prepared for in advance. Ministries and agencies should prioritize safeguarding public rights and ensuring uninterrupted public services, remain highly vigilant during the drill, promptly verify and respond to any anomalies, and maintain thorough horizontal coordination. The Executive Yuan will continue monitoring the implementation of the mobile network speed reduction drill to ensure a smooth and stable process.

The Executive Yuan stated that, to immediately grasp any突发 situations during the drill and ensure government operations, public services, and public rights, Premier Cho Jung-tai has placed high importance on the potential impacts of this inaugural mobile network speed reduction drill on daily life and public services. On August 5, he personally chaired a meeting titled 'Discussion on Urban Resilience Exercise Mobile Network Speed Reduction Drill Issues,' directing the activation of the cross-ministry response center at the Taipei Joint Disaster Prevention Center during the communications network drill. Chi Lien-cheng will serve as commander, integrating relevant central ministries to monitor operations across sectors in real time and maintain contact with local governments, closely tracking actual operations and swiftly addressing any突发 situations to minimize potential impacts.

Chi explained that this is the first time a mobile network speed reduction measure has been implemented in conjunction with the Urban Resilience Exercise. As it involves daily public communications, it may also affect services in healthcare, transportation, finance, and the civilian economy. Therefore, the Executive Yuan has specially established the cross-ministry response center with the goal of 'preparing in advance, monitoring in real time, and responding immediately.' Each ministry must not only monitor the status of its own operations but also pay attention to public feedback and public opinion. Any abnormal situation must be reported immediately, swiftly assessed, and properly handled.

The response center is led by Chi Lien-cheng as commander, with Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan and NCC Chief Secretary Wen Chun-yu serving as co-commanders. It has established emergency response teams for news, staff参谋, interior, foreign affairs, defense, finance, economy, transportation, health and welfare, information and communications, finance, and communications, along with a logistics support team. Relevant agencies are jointly stationed to carry out preparation, monitoring, and response operations.

The response center will operate on August 10 and 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Each functional response team will be led by a deputy head of the agency, with staff familiar with operations stationed on-site to enable immediate assessment and coordination in case of incidents. Each team will conduct pre-drill readiness checks, continuously monitor public opinion and operational status during the drill, and report regularly at work meetings. In case of突发 situations, immediate response actions will be taken and reported to the commander.

Additionally, to monitor local conditions, the cross-ministry response center today maintains video links with the governments of Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi City, and Chiayi County. On August 13, it will connect with the governments of Keelung City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, and Yilan County, enabling the central government to instantly grasp local situations and coordination needs.

Additional reports from Wind Media: - Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling referred to the network speed reduction drill as a 'network shutdown,' drawing criticism from the DPP caucus: 'If you can't read, please read the text again carefully.' - The mobile network speed reduction drill affects approximately 17 million people; the NCC explains why southern regions were excluded. - Can a mobile network shutdown drill truly identify vulnerabilities? Technology experts reveal Taiwan's 'real network Achilles heel': a five-minute disruption could paralyze the entire island.