Taiwan Rejects Claims of Using Convenience Stores as Wartime Hubs

Presidential Office Clarifies Plans Amidst Cross-Strait Tensions

Taipei, April 13 - The Presidential Office of Taiwan has refuted a recent report suggesting the government intends to utilize convenience stores as wartime hubs in the event of a cross-strait conflict. The office stated there is no "specific plan" in place to implement such measures.

The controversy arose from an article published by the British newspaper The Guardian. The report proposed that during a potential Chinese invasion, with domestic transportation, communication, and internet services disrupted, Taiwanese citizens might seek assistance from local convenience store chains.

The article suggested that these stores, numbering over 13,000 across the island, could serve as distribution centers for rations and medical supplies, leveraging their existing logistical networks. Furthermore, it speculated that citizens could access government communications displayed at the stores or utilize emergency hotspots.

According to The Guardian, the idea was discussed within the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, established by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to bolster Taiwan's resilience in the face of attacks or natural disasters.

In response, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) clarified that while retail industry representatives had shared insights about their support during the 1999 921 earthquake, the Lai administration has not formalized any plans like those outlined in the Guardian report.

Kuo emphasized the existence of a pre-existing government plan for wartime distribution of "strategic materials." She also denied assertions that Taiwan's police would be deployed to the frontlines during a potential Chinese invasion. The spokesperson affirmed that the police's role during wartime would focus on maintaining social order, logistics, and safeguarding critical infrastructure.

The Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, formed in June 2024, aims to strengthen Taiwan's resilience through various initiatives, including training civilian forces, securing vital supplies, reinforcing infrastructure, and ensuring the continuity of essential services.

The committee has conducted three rounds of meetings, the most recent being on March 27 during a civil defense drill in Tainan.