Taipei, Taiwan —
Taiwan’s president and top officials late Wednesday practiced how they would respond to an attempted “decapitation strike,” an operation to take out the island’s leadership, like the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
An armored personnel carrier whisked President Lai Ching-te and members of his staff from their offices in the capital Taipei to a fortified command center near the Defense Ministry, a statement from the president’s office said.
“The drill was intended to review the command structure, inter-agency coordination, and emergency-response mechanisms, so as to ensure that the government can continue operating effectively and safeguarding national security” during any possible action against the island, Karen Kuo, the presidential spokesperson, said in a statement on Thursday.
A government handout video showed the armored vehicle speeding through Taipei streets on the way to the command center. Lai was also seen donning a flak jacket, listening to briefings and issuing instructions during the drill.
