Taiwan Simulates Internet Blackout During Annual Defense Drills

Taiwan conducted a simulation of an internet blackout on Thursday as part of the final phase of its annual Han Kuang military exercises. Telecommunication operators slowed mobile web traffic to 256 Kbps in several cities and localities, including the capital of Taipei. This reduction made data heavy services such as video calls, streaming, and mobile payments difficult or impossible to use, effectively limiting users to text only communication. President Lai Ching-te apologized for the inconvenience and stated that the drill was necessary.

The exercises aimed to model a response to a possible Chinese military invasion and to strengthen civil resilience. In addition to the internet slowdown, the drills included air raid simulations that shut metro station gates and tests of hospital operations relocating to underground facilities. Some citizens used the event to test alternative communication methods, such as open source platforms that utilize long range, low power radio signals to send messages without relying on the internet.

Taiwan is increasing the intensity of these drills and its defense purchases amid heightened tensions with China, which claims the island as its own. The island's Defense Ministry reported that 18 Chinese warplanes and 11 navy ships operated around Taiwan between Wednesday and Thursday morning. Concerns persist regarding the vulnerability of Taiwan's submarine cable network, which the government calls an irreplaceable digital lifeline. This network has faced several incidents of damage involving Chinese or China linked vessels in recent years.

Reporting on the event differed slightly based on political lean. A center leaning source focused on the official government narrative and the logistical details of the military exercise. A center left leaning source framed the event through the lens of civilian preparedness and the specific vulnerabilities of the island's digital infrastructure.