Drills to include telecom disruptions

Mobile Internet would be temporarily suspended to simulate network disruptions during the Urban Resilience Exercises next month, but fixed-line connection would not be affected, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said yesterday. The drill — which is to be held in conjunction with the annual Han Kuang military exercises — is to test the military’s command-and-control backup capabilities under specific operational scenarios, he told reporters before a legislative committee meeting. Fourteen administrative regions across northern and central Taiwan are to simulate disruptions to mobile Internet as part of next month’s nationwide air raid drills, with mobile users limited to voice calls and text messages for 30 minutes, the National Communications Commission said. Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times Fixed-line communications would not be affected, Koo said. The Ministry of National Defense is to develop a more comprehensive plan based on the results of these exercises before expanding the drills to other regions, he added. The first drill is to be held on Aug. 10 from 2:30pm to 3pm in central Taiwan, affecting Taichung, Chiayi city and county, and Miaoli, Changhua, Nantou and Yunlin counties. In northern Taiwan, the drill is to be held on Aug. 13 from 2:30pm to 3pm, covering Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu city and county, and Yilan County. During the drills or in an actual emergency, people should seek shelter in basements or designated air raid shelters, follow pre-saved maps or on-site shelter signs, and comply with instructions from police and civil defense personnel, New Taipei City police said. Koo also addressed troop concerns, saying that the armed forces are currently staffed at about 80 percent of authorized strength, but would continue adjusting and consolidating unit assignments as needed. Taiwan and the US continue to strengthen their joint operational capabilities through existing military exchanges, professional training and cooperation, he said, adding that they would maintain the partnership to improve combat readiness. At the meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Koo told lawmakers that the ministry has not set a timetable for the delivery of its first indigenous submarine, the Hai Kun (Narwhal, 海鯤), as the vessel is still undergoing sea trials. The submarine is currently undergoing submerged sea trials, with safety and quality remaining the military’s top priorities, he said. It will next undergo deep-water diving tests, but “no deadline has been set,” Koo said, rejecting media speculation that it would be delivered to the navy late next month or in early September. The vessel first completed several surface navigation trials before entering submerged testing, the navy said. After equipment adjustments and additional work in dry dock, it is expected to conduct shallow-water dives at depths of about 50m before proceeding to deep-water tests of about 200m. The submarine must also complete operational evaluations before finishing its sea acceptance trials and becoming eligible for delivery to the navy. SHOW OF SUPPORT: The US said it was ‘deeply concerned’ about the Pacific nation’s decision, as Taiwan is a reliable partner and its relationships provide ‘significant benefits’ Taiwan is reassessing its economic ties with Papua New Guinea (PNG) after the Pacific nation on Wednesday unexpectedly ordered the immediate closure of Taipei’s representative office in Port Moresby, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. The ministry convened a meeting to discuss potential responses, which included reviewing Taiwan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases from Papua New Guinea, Lin said, adding that the nation’s imports of about 1.2 million tonnes of LNG annually accounted for about one-third of the Pacific nation’s LNG exports and were a major source of revenue for the country. In 2024, Papua New Guinea exported US$5.36 BIG DREAMS: The education ministry said it hoped that by hosting the competition next year, it could help Taiwan nurture talented students and foster global connections Taiwanese high-school students over the weekend swept four gold medals at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in Lithuania, and secured three golds and one silver at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in Uzbekistan. All four members of the Taiwan team for IBO — Hsu Ting-jui (許庭睿) from Taichung First Senior High School, Chen Yu-chen (陳語晨) from Taipei First Girls’ High School, and Chan Wei-chun (詹緯濬) and Yao Yi-keng (姚亦耕) from Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School — received gold medals in the competition, which was held from Sunday last week to yesterday, the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania said in a Taiwan and the US have agreed to jointly produce the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST)-developed Chien Feng I (勁蜂一型, Mighty Hornet I) drone, a high-level government official familiar with the matter said. The Mighty Hornet I, which is in service with the Marine Corps, has passed live-fire tests, including being launched from fast-moving surface ships, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Under the collaboration — which must still undergo a national security review and receive budget approval from the legislature — Taiwan and the US would jointly produce the attack drone, while the US would The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its Global UAV Academy (GUAVA) signed a letter of intent with the Japan Drone Consortium in Tokyo, aiming to lead local companies in leveraging key advantages and promoting Taiwan-Japan cooperation to drive a non-red supply chain for uncrewed vehicles. Chiang Zhen-wei (江振瑋), chief executive director of the ministry’s drone diplomacy task force, was invited by consortium chairman Kenzo Nonami to attend this year’s International Drone Expo in Tokyo last week, the ministry said on Saturday. In a Taiwan-Japan forum on Friday, Chiang talked about national drone strategies and supply chain cooperation, where he provided an in-depth