Amid the growing provocations and threats from Beijing, Taiwan’s government has stepped up efforts to prepare its civilian population for a potential attack from its powerful neighbor. Authorities of the island republic have released a new edition of their public security manual titled “In Case of Crisis: Taiwan’s National Public Security Guide”, a document designed to instruct citizens on how to act during an invasion and how to resist disinformation campaigns.
The manual warns that “hostile foreign forces” could attempt to divide Taiwanese society even during peacetime by spreading false accusations, manipulated videos, or fabricated statements aimed at undermining morale and weakening national defense. It urges citizens to remain vigilant, acquire basic emergency supplies, and learn first aid techniques to assist injured people during a crisis.
Shen Wei-chih, head of the All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency, stated in Taipei that during a Chinese invasion it could be extremely difficult to distinguish between friendly and enemy forces, as attackers might disguise themselves as Taiwanese troops to infiltrate. He therefore urged civilians to stay away from any military activity and prioritize their personal safety.
The manual, available both online and in selected supermarkets, was first published in 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered alarm on the island over the risk of a similar scenario in Asia. In addition to self-protection guidelines, the guide also offers advice on how to explain dangerous situations to children and how to cope emotionally with uncertainty during a conflict.
As a precaution, the document emphasizes that if rumors circulate about a supposed government surrender or the collapse of Taiwan’s armed forces, they must be considered automatically false. “Saber-rattling is part of everyday life,” the publication notes, reminding that Taiwan —with more than 23 million inhabitants— has been democratically governed and independent from Beijing for decades.
However, the Chinese Communist Party continues to consider the island as part of its territory and has repeatedly warned that it does not rule out the use of military force to annex it if peaceful means fail. Meanwhile, the Chinese military conducts near-daily drills around the strait that separates Taiwan from the mainland, in a constant display of military and political pressure that reinforces the sense of imminent threat.
