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Taiwan’s telecommunications infrastructure came to a near standstill Thursday afternoon as the government intentionally reduced mobile internet speeds to 256 Kbps across Taipei and six other municipalities. The half-hour slowdown, which rendered video streaming and web browsing nearly impossible while preserving text messaging capability, marked a significant phase in the Han Kuang exercises—annual military drills designed to simulate Taiwan’s response to a potential Chinese invasion.
President Lai Ching-te acknowledged the disruption and sought public understanding for the measure. “We ask for your understanding and support, as this is a necessary drill,” he said. The exercises, which commenced the previous week, represented a marked escalation from previous iterations that had generated minimal public disruption or awareness.
This year’s drills incorporated civilians and reservists throughout Taiwan’s urban centers, coordinating with municipal governments to create realistic scenarios of wartime conditions. Metro stations were temporarily sealed during air raid simulations, and hospitals practiced relocating critical operations underground. The integration of civilian populations distinguished the 2024 exercises from earlier versions focused primarily on military personnel.
Allen Hsieh, a Hong Kong visitor trapped in a Taipei metro station during the 30-minute lockdown, praised the realism of the exercise. “I did not expect it to be so real. I thought I would only receive text messages,” he said, noting the disruption did not inconvenience him given Taiwan’s security circumstances.
Taiwan has accelerated its defense preparations amid escalating tensions with China, which claims the island as sovereign territory. Between Wednesday and Thursday morning, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported 18 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval vessels operating in waters surrounding the island—part of China’s daily pattern of military activity in the region.
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