Taipei: The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has issued new security guidelines in an updated civil defense handbook to strengthen public preparedness amid escalating military pressure from China.
According to Focus Taiwan, Shen Wei-chih head of the MND’s All-out Defense Mobilization Agency, stated that the handbook promotes the concept of “being prepared means being safer” and provides the public with information on potential threats and related response measures.
The new handbook follows two previous similar editions released in 2022 and 2023, both aimed at strengthening the public’s response capabilities. In recent years, countries such as France, Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania have released similar defense handbooks, all aimed at guiding the public to prepare in peacetime and navigate crises. Taiwan is taking the same approach, Shen said. The handbook comes with a bright orange cover and is aimed at readers of all ages, featuring cartoon characters that illustrate self-help and emergency procedures.
T
he handbook also warns that ongoing disinformation campaigns pose a threat to Taiwan, including the use of deepfake videos designed to divide society and undermine the country’s resolve. In the event of a military invasion, any messages claiming national defeat or government surrender should be considered disinformation, according to the handbook.
Additionally, it notes that Chinese apps such as DeepSeek, WeChat, TikTok (Douyin), and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) may pose cybersecurity risks. The handbook is now available for download at the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency website. Physical copies will be distributed through retail outlets across Taiwan, although details have not yet been finalized.
