On standby Taiwan its anti-aircraft shelters, which Nancy Pelosi is expected to visit as rising tensions with China and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raise new concerns about the possibility of a Chinese attack.

China considers Taiwan its own territory and has increased its air and sea military presence around it. On the other hand, Taiwan is committed to defending its territory and has made it a priority to strengthen its defenses by regularly conducting military and civilian defense exercises.

The preparations include marking out shelters where citizens can take shelter in the event of a missile attack from China — not in purpose-built bunkers, but in underground spaces such as parking lots, an underground railway and underground shopping malls.

There are more than 4,600 such shelters in the capital city of Taipei, which can accommodate about 12 million people, more than four times its population.

18-year-old Harmony Wu was surprised to learn that the underground mall where she and other young people had recently rehearsed dances would turn into a bomb shelter in the event of war. But, as he says, he understands the reasons.

“We need to have shelters. We don’t know when a war might happen, and that’s for our safety. War is cruel. We have not encountered this, so we are not ready,” says Wu.

Taipei officials are updating a database of designated shelters, putting their whereabouts on a mobile app, and campaigning through social media and posters to let citizens know where the nearest shelter is.

At the entrances to the shelters there is a yellow sign, almost the size of an A4 sheet, which indicates the maximum number of people they can accommodate.

A senior official at the Taipei agency in charge of shelters says the events unfolding in Europe have created a sense of urgency.

“See the war in Ukraine”. Abercrombie Young, director of the Buildings Management Agency, told Reuters.

“There is no guarantee that innocent citizens will not be targeted. All citizens should be informed about crises… We need shelters in case the Chinese Communists attack,” he adds, explaining why the public needs to be informed.

Last month, Taiwan carried out large-scale airstrikes on its territory, the first since the coronavirus pandemic disrupted regular exercises.

Among the instructions given to citizens in the event of a rocket attack was to enter the underground parking spaces of their homes, covering their eyes and ears with their hands, but with their mouths open, to minimize the impact of the shock wave.

Some representatives of the civil protection sector argue that additional measures are needed.

Authorities are required by law to keep shelters clean and tidy, but not required to supply them with supplies such as food and water.

Researchers in Parliament called in June for emergency supplies to be provided to shelters.

Wu Enoch of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party says citizens should prepare survival kits to take with them when they go to the shelter.

“What matters is what a person takes with them to be able to stay there for a long time,” Wu says, referring to medical supplies and even tools to create a makeshift toilet.

China’s new US warning about Pelosi’s visit

The warning that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s possible visit to Taiwan would undermine China’s bilateral relations with the United States, said Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador to the UN.

“Such a visit is certainly very dangerous and very provocative,” Zhang said yesterday at a press conference marking the start of China’s August presidency of the UN Security Council.

And he added: “If such a visit takes place, it will undermine relations between China and the United States.” He said Pelosi’s visit was not comparable to the last visit to Taiwan by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives in 1997.

“The previous mistake does not justify the next one,” Zhang said. “In addition, the situation in Taiwan is also changing with the support of some outside forces.”

“Taiwan’s desire for independence is moving forward. If we don’t take the necessary prompt action to stop this… the situation is likely to spiral out of control,” Zhang told reporters in New York.

Zhang said the Chinese diplomat urged Washington to live up to its commitment to the One China principle, which US President Joe Biden spoke about during a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Washington is pursuing a “one China policy” by diplomatically recognizing Beijing, not Taipei. But US law requires Taiwan, which has a democratic government, the means to defend itself, and pressure is mounting in Congress to provide clearer support.

Zhang stressed yesterday: “We will do our best to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Source: APE-MPE, Reuters.