Taiwan 'throttles' mobile internet for first time during annual war games

Taiwan reduced mobile internet speeds in central regions for the first time during annual war games, simulating the disruption of communication during a potential Chinese attack or natural disaster. The Democratic Republic of Taiwan, claimed by China, routinely participates in air raid drills alongside war games, clearing streets for 30 minutes.

The internet throttling drill focused on Taichung, the central metropolis, allowing only basic mobile phone services to function. Key services, such as ATMs and traffic signals, remained unaffected, as did landlines and fixed internet. Air raid sirens sounded in Taichung, prompting residents to evacuate the streets at 2:30 pm local time (6:30 am GMT).

The government publicly announced the drill, sending text message alerts in Chinese and English to mobile phones across Taiwan and sharing updates on social media. Northern Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, will experience the same exercise on Thursday. Earlier, Taiwan's military practiced repelling a Chinese air landing assault on the strategically vital Penghu Islands, while the 10-day Han Kuang exercise began last week and will last for 10 days.

The drill involved ground troops loading tank ammunition and taking positions in the dark before dawn in Penghu, a strategically important island in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese strategists consider Penghu a potential first target for China, aiming to establish a base for missile and drone attacks on Taiwan. Reservists from Penghu participated in the exercise, as part of their 14-day training program, as Taiwan's military aims to integrate reserve forces better into its operational planning and make its preparations more realistic.