China’s Fujian sparks fears about Taiwan tensions with emergency drill for blackouts
- The exercise on Tuesday simulated a large-scale power outage in the southeastern province, which is just across the strait from Taiwan
- The drill prompted frenzied discussion online, with some speculating it was related to the possible outbreak of war with the self-ruled island
An emergency drill in preparation for potential blackouts in China’s Fujian province has drawn widespread attention online amid high tensions with Taiwan.
The exercise on Tuesday simulated a large-scale power outage in the southeastern province – which is just across the Taiwan Strait from the self-ruled island – caused by a typhoon and “external damage”.
A level-two emergency response was also launched during the event for rescue and power restoration, the government-run Fujian Daily reported on its website.
The drill, one of the largest in years, was conducted by the Fujian provincial government and the local office of China’s State Grid, a state-owned utility provider.
We must stay alert to the possibility that our power facilities will be targeted amid Taiwan retaliations or US intervention
Organisers simulated rescues after power cuts on offshore islands, as well as emergency responses to terrorism, cyberattacks and blackouts at hazardous chemical plants, the report said.
“We must stay alert to the possibility that our power facilities will be targeted amid Taiwan retaliations or US intervention,” said one user on Weibo, China’s equivalent to Twitter.