The Formosa Republican Association has held a series of civil defense
exercises in Nantou County.

More than 10 civil defense groups from around Taiwan joined the two-day
drills at the National Fire Agency's Training Center.

The association says some 100 people participated in the exercises,where they
practiced essential skills, in an effort to build grassroots resiliency
against war and natural disasters.

Exercises included dealing with scenarios that required participants to
provide care to military personnel injured in battle... and to simulate
moving injured civilians and soldiers to safety at medical stations behind
the frontlines.

Participants also practiced search and rescue operations in the rubble of a
collapsed building.

The exercises were observed by Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shi-yuan, National
Fire Agency head Hsiao Huan-chang as well as members of the Presidential
Office's Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee.