Explanation of the All-out Defense Mobilization and Disaster Prevention and Rescue Exercise (No. 8 Min An) in in 2022

On August 22 this year, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) held the " Press Conference of the All-out Defense Mobilization and Disaster Prevention and Rescue (Min An No. 8) Exercise for 2022" from perspective of the Secretariat of the All-out Defense Mobilization Preparation Work Report of the Executive Yuan to explain the schedule and ways of implementation of the Min An No.8 exercise. The purpose of the exercise is to strengthen disaster prevention and response measures of local governments and safeguard the safety of life and property of our nationals.

The Min An No. 8 exercise this year was held in conjunction with the "Disaster Prevention and Rescue Exercise" of the Executive Yuan, which was designed to strengthen the preparation operations of local governments in facing various disasters (salvage and rescue of disaster in wartime), and review the energy integration in disaster prevention work, and response efficiency. Considering the community is still affected by the severe special infectious pneumonia (COVID-19), the exercise will be carried out in accordance with the epidemic prevention regulations of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC). The MND has invited the Office of Disaster Prevention and Control of the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and other relevant ministries and committees, and municipality and county (city) governments to jointly discus and adjust the exercise to continue to implement and promote various original disaster prevention preparations and response actions.

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted by three municipalities, including Kaohsiung City, and eight county (city) governments, including Pingtung County, from March to July. The exercise is also divided into two stages encompassing a "written review" and "comprehensive implementation." Disaster prevention (relief) drills are conducted based on potential disasters in the jurisdiction, with a focus on "comprehensive implementation" in the drills.

The exercise this year features three characteristics:

1. Drills of important economic construction facilities are combined to improve the effectiveness of salvage and rescue operations as well as response to real disasters and war disasters: Municipal and county (city) governments should adhere to the principle of being strict, refined, and realistic in reviewing the important economic construction facilities (oil) within the jurisdiction, such as water, power, pipelines, transportation, and others, combined with the scenario design to include the implementation of disaster prevention and relief to improve the effectiveness of salvage and rescue response in the event of real disasters and war disasters and safeguard the life and property of local residents. 
2. Strengthen the integrated inter-ministerial support and disaster relief mechanism: In the exercise this year (2022), the New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, and Kaohsiung City governments will jointly sponsor demonstrations and observations when relevant ministries and commissions are mobilized. The exercise will be guided by the ministry and committee mobilized to coach county and city governments to make use of civilian and material support so that the overall mobilization and disaster prevention capabilities of the country can be enhanced, effectively supporting disaster prevention and rescue in peace-time and military operations in war-time.
3. Implementation of infectious disease prevention and control drills: Since the impact of COVID-19 continues, we have adjusted and added drills to include prevention and response for infectious diseases (disaster evacuation and epidemic prevention measures for victims and at epidemic prevention hotels, re-settlement for self-quarantine personnel, and others) to assist municipal and county (city) governments in their epidemic prevention and response capabilities.