Dozens of journalists gathered at a PX Mart in Taipei’s Xinyi District this morning, crowding out the dozen or so customers to document the response to a simulated missile attack.
At 10 a.m., the supermarket temporarily suspended operations, closed its main entrance and activated backup power for a simulated blackout.
“This is very annoying,” said one customer, who squeezed past journalists to the counter a minute before the drill started.
Taiwan is staging its annual Han Kuang military exercises this week. For the first time these included urban resilience exercises (城鎮韌性演習) to test how prepared society is for disasters or a potential Chinese attack.
The urban resilience exercises took place at three branches of Taiwan’s PX Mart supermarket, in Taipei, Tainan and Taichung. Deputy Interior Minister Maa Shyh-yuan (馬士元) explained at a post-drill press conference that the urban resilience exercises “could expand to other brands if successful.”
At the PX Mart in Taipei, the store manager guided customers to the basement as they covered their heads with their hands. At least two of the “customers” in the basement appeared to have volunteered for the role. One, who had stood in the store with an empty shopping basket for 20 minutes before the drill started, complained that the basement was uncomfortable. Another pretended to experience respiratory distress, prompting a PX Mart employee to simulate performing CPR on a mannequin.
“Drills are a normal part of our lives, as we have gone through something like this since we were little. There is nothing to be nervous about, we are all very used to this,” said a customer who gave her surname as Tseng (曾).
Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆), deputy secretary general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, acknowledged that the drill was “a little bit disruptive” for the customers but said it was “actually very valuable for people to understand how they can react when facing a crisis.”
“But it’s just a start,” Lin added. “It’s very important to get prepared, no matter how or no matter what kind of circumstances we might face.”
When members of the press first arrived at PX Mart’s Xinyi Lizhong branch in Taipei, staff were clearing out areas that are usually stacked with boxes, as if they were preparing the store for the drill.
Some staff had microphones on their necks. One read the scenario aloud from a clipboard.
“We will begin the drills now. Northern Taiwan just experienced a missile attack,” she said. “The police agency received orders from the defense ministry to send out alerts. Civilians then look for shelter to seek protection.”
When asked why just three supermarkets were involved, PX Mart Marketing Manager Liu Hongzheng (劉鴻徵) said their participation was “voluntary.” He said only staff at the three branches had received relevant training.
PX Mart’s founder is an advisor for the Taiwan government’s Whole of Society Defense Resilience Committee.
“The main goal for this drill is to strengthen private business’ and the public’s ability to protect themselves,” said Maa, the deputy interior minister.
“Later, in September, there will also be an earthquake drill. The government hopes to help businesses to plan and conduct these trainings. I also would like to see other essential businesses, including food, clothing, housing and transportation, participate in disaster drills to build a ‘resilient society.’”
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