Image reproduced from 公視新聞

The Wan'an drill serves as a code for Taiwan's military-civilian air defense exercises, mainly aimed at simulating responses to real war and air raid situations. With technological advancements, people can now simply visit the Ministry of the Interior's air defense shelter section and connect to Google Maps to find the nearest shelters. According to a report by Public Television Service, the air defense shelter at the Songshan Metro Station in Taipei is located from B1 to B3, accommodating a total of 27,000 people. However, beginning in July, the Ministry of the Interior mandated that all air defense shelters with a capacity of over 500 people must be included in the management system.

In addition to ensuring clear access passages, these shelters must also have basic lighting equipment, drainage systems to prevent water accumulation, and must not obstruct evacuation. Non-compliant facilities will be referred to the police authorities. Zhang Wenchuan, director of the Taipei City Police-Military Defense Control Center, stated that if citizens notice any blockage or clutter in air defense facilities, they should report it to their local police station or city government. According to existing regulations, any air defense facility that does not comply during an air raid alarm may face fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000.

Considering the current nature of warfare, where missile bombings are prevalent, the National Land Agency has recently announced a draft amendment to the “Building Technical Regulations,” which will increase the per capita air raid shelter area for new schools and factories to one square meter, in line with Swiss standards. The amendments will also require mechanical ventilation, emergency lighting, and power outlets for use during air raid shelters, and even restrooms will be designated as essential facilities.

He Chenghui, deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Security Association, pointed out that many collective housing units utilize underground parking lots for their underground space, which raises questions about the functionality of ventilation systems in the event of power outages. Switzerland has been a neutral country for 400 years without experiencing war, but it has not relaxed its defense measures. The draft explanation also noted that while general non-critical infrastructure or unimportant military bases are not direct targets, missiles follow a curved trajectory, which could indirectly impact mid-to-high levels of buildings. Currently, Taiwan's regulations state that exposed roofs and wall thickness must be at least 24 cm, but foreign shelter standards often require reinforced concrete walls to be 30 cm thick, which Taiwan plans to adopt in the future.