HL Launches the 1st Script-Free National Defense Drill to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness

(中央社訊息服務20250425 10:18:40)On 24th April, the Hualien County Government hosted the 2025 Urban Resilience and All-out Defense Mobilization Exercise led by Hualien County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei. The event brought together key figures, including Minister without Portfolio Chi Lien-Cheng, Director-General of the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency Shen Wei-Chih, and representatives from the National Security Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Huadong Defense Command. International experts, including those from the United States, were also in attendance for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Mayor Hsu emphasized that this exercise marks a milestone for Hualien and Taiwan as a whole, as it’s the first time a script-free wargame simulation has been conducted at this scale. The goal is to strengthen coordination between local and central agencies and improve both civil defense and disaster response capabilities. Given Hualien’s vulnerability to complex natural disasters and its critical transportation links, the ability to respond swiftly and effectively is essential. She also highlighted that the exercise draws upon past experiences to enhance cross-agency, cross-level, and emergency response capabilities.

The morning’s drill took place at the Hualien County Fire Department’s Disaster Response Center, where an unscripted scenario was used to test the real-time decision-making of participating agencies. Officials from the Executive Yuan’s All-out Defense Mobilization introduced simulated emergency situations, and participants drew additional challenges at random, then had a limited time to respond. The exercise showcased the county’s ability to command, coordinate, and mobilize both human and material resources in a high-pressure setting.

Unlike past drills that focused on wartime responses, this year’s exercise also highlighted peacetime preparedness. In the afternoon, practical on-site drills were conducted at locations including Jinfeng Park, Hualien City Public Health Center, and Hua-Ren Junior High School. These exercises included emergency distribution of essentials, setup of relief and first-aid stations, and cybersecurity measures.

Senior government officials also joined the event, including Deputy Minister of Agriculture Huang Chao-Chin, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council Liu De-Jin, Lin Fei-Fan, and Commander Liu Wei-Hsin of the Huadong Defense Command, alongside evaluation representatives from various central government agencies.

The Hualien County Government reiterated its commitment to strengthening the county’s overall readiness by continually reviewing and maintaining personnel, civilian resources, and infrastructure. Working hand-in-hand with both public and private sectors, the county will use these drills to refine its response strategies, ensuring that residents receive timely and effective protection should a real crisis occur.