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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TAIWAN-MILITARY-EXERCISE
HEADLINE: Taiwan hosts largest military and air raid drills amid threat from China
TEASER: The island’s annual military exercises are aimed at enhancing the troops’ capabilities in real combat while strengthening civil defense.
PUBLISHED AT: 7/24/2024, 9:40 am
BYLINE: William Yang
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Taipei, Taiwan
VIDEOGRAPHER: William Yang
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Elizabeth Lee
SCRIPT EDITORS: Bill Ide, Baragona
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:00
VID APPROVED BY: Baragona
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES: Production: Video for this story can be found in this folder Taiwan Military Exercise https://app.frame.io/projects/71f8cdc5-4d41-4b96-b8a0-1f79920f11f8/63a2024f-76a2-4932-9b78-d9dc95a857d2
))
((INTRO))
As Taiwan hosts annual military exercises this week, it is also holding air raid drills to raise public awareness about how to respond to an attack from China and where to seek shelter. Officials want this year’s exercises to be as realistic as possible. VOA’s William Yang has more from Taipei.
((NARRATOR))
((VIDEO: AFP DRILLS 1 OPENING SHOT AIR RAID SIREN BLARING, CAR PULLED OVER, METRO PASSENGERS ESCORTED DOWN ESCALATOR // REUTERS TAIWAN DEFENSE DRILL 1:24-1:38 PEOPLE WALKING IN UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT, SQUATTING DOWN //AFP DRILLS 2 00:10-00:19 //BRIAN CHEN IMG_4697 ))
((NAT SOUND – AIR RAID SIREN))
As sirens blared and traffic stopped, metro passengers were directed to underground shelters. The focus of Tuesday’s drill: simulating an incoming missile attack. Some gathered in underground parking lots like this one and squatted, bracing for impact.
((NAT SOUND - EXPLOSION))
Brian Chen was on his way to the gym when the drill began.
((RADIO: The 36-year-old chef says drills like this are important because if a serious disaster happens one day, Taiwanese people will be prepared. Chen says unlike drills in the past, which were more relaxed, the air raid drills in recent years have become more stringent. The scale of the exercises has expanded over the last two years, he adds.))
((Brian Chen, Chef)) ((Male, Mandarin)) (IMG_4697) (00:09 - 00:15)
“Drills like this are important because if a serious disaster happens one day, Taiwanese people will be prepared.”
((CUTAWAY // VIDEO: AFP DRILLS 2 00:52-56 FIREFIGHTERS PUTTING OUT FIRE ))
(IMG_4697) (00:27 - 00:36)
“Unlike drills in the past, which were more relaxed, the air raid drills in recent years have become more stringent. The scale of the exercises has expanded over the last two years.”
((RADIO: Seventy-year-old artist Tim Huang agrees. He says this year’s drills help them understand how close they are to the danger posed by China’s military. They have to be prepared for threats posed by Chinese fighter jets at all times, he adds.))
((Tim Huang, Artist)) ((Male, Mandarin)) (IMG_4719) (00:56 - 01:01)
“This year’s drills help us understand how close we are to the danger posed by China’s military. // (IMG_4719) (01:09 - 01:13) “We have to be prepared for threats posed by the Chinese fighter jets at all times.”
((VIDEO: REUTERS TAIWAN DEFENCE TROOPS: COURTESY “TAIWAN MILITARY NEWS AGENCY” Tanks driving through streets in southern Taiwan + naval vessels sailing in waters near Taiwan))
Taiwan is also conducting a series of “unscripted” military exercises aimed at enhancing troop’s capabilities to respond to real combat.
((VIDEO: AFP DRILLS 2 3:08- Taiwanese troops simulated real combat situations))
This year’s drills removed the largely performative elements of previous exercises. Analysts say the changes are aimed at boosting confidence in the military’s capabilities.
((VIDEO: Taiwanese citizens walking through train station)) (IMG_4628)
However, Taiwanese remain divided about how much confidence they have in the military.
((RADIO: Jackson Wang is a 71-year-old retiree. He says Taiwan is very united and a lot of people like him are reservists who have received very stringent training.))
((Jackson Wang, Retiree)) ((Male, Mandarin)) (IMG_4626) (00:33 - 00:37)
“Taiwan is very united and a lot of us are reservists who have received very stringent training. I’m one of them.”
((RADIO: Twenty-nine-year-old receptionist Lisa Liu disagrees. She says, from what she’s heard or based on the experiences of her friends who have served in the military, she doesn't have much confidence in the Taiwanese military’s combat capabilities.))
((Lisa Liu, Receptionist)) ((Female, Mandarin)) (IMG_4627) (01:26 - 01:39)
“From what I’ve heard or based on the experiences of my friends who have served in the military, I don’t have much confidence in the Taiwanese military’s combat capabilities.”
((VIDEO: Taiwanese people walking out of metro station)) (IMG_4700) ((Huang is talking about military exercises – maybe show more from the combat drills instead?))
Some say the exercises are not enough and that Taiwan could do more to prepare for a potential conflict.
((Radio: Artist Tim Huang says the only way to prevent war is to be prepared for war. We can’t keep pretending that everything is peaceful, he adds.))
((Tim Huang, Artist)) ((Male, Mandarin)) (IMG_4719) (03:55 - 04:08)
“The only way to prevent war is to be prepared for war. We can’t keep pretending that everything is peaceful.”
((VIDEO: Street view in Taipei)) (IMG_4662) ((combat drills instead?))
Huang says in light of the growing threats from China, Taiwan should make future military exercises even closer to real combat. ((It’s better not to end on an SOT, so I moved this down to the end.))
William Yang, VOA News, Taipei, Taiwan.
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