The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China announced on the 18th that the “Taiwan National Security Guidelines” will begin household-wide distribution starting on the 19th of the month. Approximately 9.83 million households nationwide will receive the guidelines through the Ministry of the Interior’s civil administration system, with the distribution expected to be completed by January 5th of next year.
The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China held a press conference on the 18th for the “Republic of China Defense Intelligence Tour 114 (2025)”. The event also included the planning for the nationwide distribution of the “Taiwan National Security Guidelines (New Edition of National Defense Manual).”
Shen Weizhi, Director of the National Mobilization Office of the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China, elaborated on the distribution plan. According to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, there are approximately 9.83 million households as of October this year, with each household set to receive a copy of the guidelines. Additionally, to meet various needs such as public welfare activities, disaster prevention exercises, civil defense team training, national defense education courses, and an English version for foreigners in Taiwan, a total of 11 million copies will be printed (including 105,000 English versions).
Shen Weizhi stated that the household distribution operation will commence on the 19th in four batches across the 22 counties and cities nationwide, with priority given to outlying islands and remote areas. The guidelines will be transported by Chunghwa Post under the Ministry of Transportation to town and city councils, and subsequently distributed to households through the Ministry of the Interior’s civil administration system, with the process expected to be completed by January 5th next year to ensure that the public receives them promptly.
According to Shen Weizhi, under the guidance of the National Security Council and the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of National Defense compiled the security guidelines by extensively incorporating relevant information and experiences from home and abroad. The distribution plan will ensure that every household receives the guidelines, providing the public with crisis response information to enhance national defense and disaster prevention awareness, thereby strengthening the overall societal defense resilience.
Moreover, Shen Weizhi explained the printing costs, stating that as the distribution is not covered by the annual budget, in accordance with the Executive Yuan’s guidance, the Ministry of National Defense applied for second reserve funds under the Budget Act and has since been approved by the Executive Yuan. The printing operation, carried out by the Mobilization Office’s Arms Production and Manufacturing Center, was done through an open tender process with a bid amount of NT$42.79 million, averaging NT$3.89 per copy.
Deputy Counselor Zhao Shixuan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China mentioned that foreign language versions of the guidelines will be distributed to three categories of recipients: officials from foreign missions in Taiwan, foreign media reporters stationed in Taiwan, and foreigners residing in Taiwan with assistance from foreign missions, starting from December 19th.
Furthermore, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China issued a press release on the evening of the 18th, stating that since the release of the Taiwan National Security Guidelines in September, it has received positive recognition and feedback from various sectors. Requests for hard copies or authorization for printing have been made. Meanwhile, countries like the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia have also distributed civil defense manuals, aligning Taiwan’s efforts with those of many democratic nations, receiving praise and recognition from the international community.
The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that considering some elderly individuals may not be accustomed to reading online, distributing hard copies can reduce the digital divide, ensuring immediate effectiveness in times of crisis. This decision aligns with policy guidance, applying for second reserve funds from the Executive Yuan in compliance with the Budget Act, and conducting an open tender process with a bid amount of NT$42.79 million, with absolutely no attempt to evade legislative oversight.
The Ministry of National Defense stressed the importance of being fully prepared to address unforeseeable disaster risks, which can enhance the safeguarding of the lives and properties of the people. This is a long-term and essential public investment, and they urge the public to support this initiative.