CNN WORLD News

Taipei makes war preparations

tunnel

Tunnels would house city government

March 13, 1996
Web posted at: 12:00 p.m. EST (1700 GMT)

From Correspondent Tom Mintier

TAPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Beneath Tapei's national museum, workmen are making preparations for war, converting a network of tunnels into what would become Tapei's city government offices should war break out.

The intricate web of tunnels, built by the Japanese in 1940 and capable of holding more than 2,700 people, also would serve as the homes for city officials should tensions between China and Taiwan escalate to all-out war. (529K QuickTime movie)

tunnel lock tunnel doors
In recent days, maintenance crews have ensured emergency generators are working, and have checked out telephone and electric circuits. The tunnel walls are freshly painted, and concrete benches line the sides. Small signs indicate each city department and several rooms are set up as communications centers, with red telephones already sitting on tables.

red phones

A smaller tunnel filled with wires leads outside where a large antenna sits hidden among trees. Workers are using the antenna to install a new radio system for the tunnels.

The city water supply runs to the tunnels, and a massive underground storage tank is readily available if the city's water were to get cut off.

Across town, a similar network of tunnel exists.

The tunnels have not been used since Japanese troops occupied the area in the 1940s. City officials say there is no immediate plan to use the shelter, but they want to make sure it is ready should the need arise.

Elsewhere in Taipei, other precautions are being taken.

At the regional air traffic control center, commercial air traffic is being diverted away from the area and pilots are being monitored closely to make sure they don't stray off course into Chinese missile test areas.

red zones

Large red boxes on radar light up to show the restricted live-fire military zones. Smaller squares on the screens indicate where Chinese M-9 missiles are expected to land.

"We reroute all the aircraft to ... Hong Kong to avoid that exercise area," said Louis Yian of the Taipei Area Control Center.

Overall, more than 300 commercial flights are being diverted each day. The flights jog 15 miles off their regular course, amounting to two minutes of flight time.

The flight diversions are expected to continue until March 20, the date China has said its military exercises will end.

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