The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Tuesday released an updated version of its civil defense handbook, seeking to provide more practical information than the widely criticized version originally published in April last year.
The updated version has double the number of pages, from 28 originally to 48, and is separated into sections covering "peacetime preparation" and "wartime response," All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency Director Shen Wei-chih (沈威志) told reporters in Taipei.
It outlines safety measures for civilians during an air raid, major fire, building collapse, major power outage, water shortage or shortage of essential goods, while explaining basic survival skills and offering emergency hotlines.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Compared with the previous version, Shen said the new version has more descriptions of civil defense concepts and offers more detailed suggestions on how to respond to different types of emergencies.
It also lists nearby air raid shelters and hospitals, and explains how to prepare an emergency kit, he said.
Notably, the wartime response section includes a chapter on “enemy identification,” specifying the uniforms and insignias worn by Republic of China personnel versus those worn by “enemy” soldiers, without explicitly naming the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Chinese versions for different regions are also available to download here.
No English version has been issued yet, but the ministry said it would publish one, without saying when.
The original handbook was widely criticized for being impractical, as it focused more on explaining government responsibilities during wartime rather than telling people what to do.
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