Taiwan holds air-raid drills amid tension

Roads emptied and people were ordered to stay indoors in parts of Taiwan, including its capital Taipei, yesterday for an air-raid exercise as it steps up preparations in the event of a Chinese attack.

Sirens sounded at 1.30pm for mandatory street evacuation drills, which effectively shut towns and cities across northern Taiwan for 30 minutes.

A "missile alert," asking people to evacuate immediately, was sent via text message.

"It is necessary to make preparations in the event of a war," Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je said in a speech after overseeing drills for the exercise named Wan An, which means "everlasting peace."

REUTERS