Taiwan Tests Civil Defense: Data Throttled for Millions

Mobile data was throttled across central Taiwan for thirty minutes on Monday, affecting millions of residents and disrupting services like video streaming and calls. This disruption was a simulated test of Taiwan's communication resilience in the event of a Chinese attack.

The activity occurred during the island's annual civil defense exercise. On this occasion, the central region, including the city of Taichung, was the focus. Sirens sounded at 2:30 p.m. as part of an air-raid drill, instructing people to seek shelter.

Streets in Taichung, a city of nearly three million, emptied as residents complied with the drill. People filed into basements or remained indoors in homes and shops. The exercise concluded with a digital message flashed on phones across the city, signaling the end of the simulated emergency. The drills aim to provide citizens with a tangible sense of emergency response protocols.