Taiwan has conducted a disaster drill, apparently aimed at demonstrating its readiness to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies across the Taiwan Strait.



The drill was conducted in the southern city of Tainan on Thursday. It was based on a scenario in which an explosion occurred at a port building, leaving many people dead and injured. It involved more than 1,500 people, including police, firefighters and civilian volunteers.



Participants practiced the procedures for triaging and treating the injured based on the severity of their conditions as the patients arrived by ambulance. They also practiced setting up a disaster response center under the assumption that a tsunami had occurred.



Officials from the United States and more than 10 other countries observed the drill.



Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who was present at the drill, emphasized his intention to raise defense capabilities through such exercises. Lai said he hopes that Taiwan can safeguard its security not only through military might but also through the strength of society-wide defense capabilities.



As China continues to conduct military activities routinely around Taiwan, Thursday's drill, to which officials from the US and other countries that support Taiwan were invited, is seen as a way for Lai to demonstrate his administration's readiness to respond to emergencies across the Taiwan Strait.