Taiwan rolls out crisis guide covering natural disasters and possible Chinese invasion

Taiwan’s nationwide survival preparedness guide

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry announced on Tuesday that every citizen will begin receiving a civil-defence booklet this week, offering practical guidance on surviving natural disasters and emergency situations, including the possibility of a Chinese invasion. The handbook, which the government first unveiled in September, will be distributed island-wide between this week and January next year, officials said.

According to CNN, the booklet contains instructions on which essential items households should stockpile, what should be placed in emergency go-bags, and how civilians should behave if they encounter enemy soldiers. It also carries a firm warning designed to counter disinformation in the event of conflict, stating that “any claims that the government has surrendered or that the nation has been defeated is false.”

Taiwan is a self-governing democracy, but China insists it is part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that force could be used if necessary to achieve unification. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, Beijing has escalated diplomatic, economic and military pressure on the island, sending warships and fighter jets around Taiwan with increasing frequency.

CNN noted that Taiwan’s new booklet follows a similar trend in Europe, where Sweden and Finland this year updated civil-defence advice for their citizens as NATO members strengthen preparedness measures against the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict.

Shen Wei-chih, director of the military’s All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency, told reporters that enhancing public readiness was essential. “Given natural disasters such as typhoons and the military threat from China, we want our people to understand that the more prepared we are, the safer we will be,” he said.

The handbook recommends that residents maintain at least one week of essential household supplies, including staples such as noodles and rice, and keep a go-bag—ideally with a compact sleeping bag—next to the door for rapid evacuation. It also outlines a range of potential military threats Taiwan may face, from sabotage of undersea cables and unilateral no-fly zones to a full-scale invasion, CNN reported.

Citizens are further urged to move away from any area where they notice military activity and to avoid taking photographs or videos of Taiwan’s own forces to protect operational security. The booklet also warns of cybersecurity risks associated with Chinese-made applications such as DeepSeek, WeChat, TikTok and RedNote, and highlights potential privacy concerns involving Chinese-brand devices equipped with cameras, saying they could “even be used by the enemy in a crisis”.

According to CNN, the Defence Ministry plans to print about 11 million copies, including 105,000 English editions for foreign consulates, international media and Taiwan’s expatriate residents, aiming to reach all 9.8 million households.