The government began sliding the orange booklet under doors and into mailboxes this week to raise awareness about potential dangers, but critics have branded it a waste of taxpayers' money.
"I hope we'll never need it but it feels reassuring to have," Tsai, a 31-year-old 3D animation specialist, told AFP.
"I'll put it near my emergency items at home, like the flashlight, just so I know it's there."
The 32-page booklet offers advice on everything from how to prepare a "go bag" to what to do when an air-raid siren sounds and how to give first-aid.
It also warns readers that "hostile foreign forces" could use disinformation to weaken their resolve to defend the island if China attacks.
"In the event of a military invasion of Taiwan, any claim that the government has surrendered or that the nation has been defeated is false," it says.
The new printed version is the first time the government has opted for paper emergency guidelines for the public after previously publishing them online.
"A printed copy ensures that... the elderly in rural areas or anyone without access to digital tools can still obtain the information they need," Defence Minister Wellington Koo told lawmakers on Wednesday.
- 'Stay alert' -
The guide, titled "In Case of Crisis", is part of President Lai Ching-te's efforts to prepare the island's 23 million people for a disaster or conflict.
"I think it's quite helpful," Chi Chien-han, 43, a community leader, told AFP.
"It reminds us to stay alert rather than acting like nothing matters."
However, IT worker Yang Chen-che said the guide was more political than practical and he would probably "throw it away".
"You can look up all of this online," Yang, 38, told AFP.
"I don't need to keep a paper copy."
Chiang Chu-hsuan, 60, another community leader, dismissed the guide as a "waste of money" and said Lai should try hard to "avoid war".
The defence ministry said Taiwan had studied similar books recently published by countries such as Sweden and France when putting its guide together.
"I think this booklet actually shows our determination of defending ourselves," said Lin Fei-fan, deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.
Yeh Yuan-chih, a legislator with the main opposition Kuomintang party, which advocates for warmer ties with China, questioned the cost of printing and delivering the booklet.
"Is it necessary to spend more than NT$60 million ($1.9 million)?" Yeh asked Koo in parliament.
The government expects to finish distributing the guides to nearly 10 million households by early January.
"In the past, war didn't feel that close to us," said 32-year-old resident Ruru Liu.
"But after what happened in Ukraine I think this might help people to some extent."
Chinese star Fan Bingbing wins Taiwan top film award
Taipei (AFP) Nov 22, 2025 -
Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing won best actress at Taiwan's prestigious Golden Horse Awards on Saturday, earning accolades for an uncharacteristic farmer role as she eyes a rebound after a tax evasion scandal wrecked her career.
Fan was the biggest name from China at this year's Golden Horse, dubbed the Chinese-language Oscars, but she was absent from the ceremony, instead giving an acceptance speech over the phone.
In the Malaysian film "Mother Bhumi", the 44-year-old icon delivered what some critics hailed as a breakthrough performance with her portrayal of a widowed farmer and ritual healer, a far cry from her usual glamorous roles.
"When the director was discussing the role with me, he asked me 'Are you willing to let me destroy your face?' I remember answering without hesitation 'Fan Bingbing is ready to go all the way'," she told the awards ceremony in Taipei, where director Chong Keat-aun collected the statuette on her behalf.
Fan was one of China's highest paid actresses and starred in the X-Men and Iron Man franchises before she was targeted in a crackdown on tax evasion in 2018. Her career in China has been on ice since.
"For me, the role was not just a physical transformation, but also a profound resonance of souls between me and the character... The character also guided my growth, allowing me to more deeply appreciate the resilient strength inherent in women," Fan said in her acceptance speech.
"As a Chinese filmmaker, I look forward to achieving more breakthroughs in the future and using my work to convey greater values and deeper meanings that can be seen."
The director, who had earlier hinted Fan may attend the event, admitted he had no idea where she was.
Collecting another award, for the best original song in a movie, Chong thanked "Fan Bingbing who couldn't be here today. Where are you?"
"This song was written for you," Chong said of the winning track that he wrote the lyrics for.
"We all believe you can start over. This song is for you."
Chinese directors and A-Listers have largely shunned the Golden Horse Awards since a Taiwanese director voiced support for the island's independence in an acceptance speech in 2018, although last year saw a record number of entries from China.
Beijing, which claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, banned entertainers from attending the event in 2019 at a time of rising political tensions between the two sides.
Best film on Saturday went to Taiwanese production "A Foggy Tale" about the island's political purges decades ago.
Hong Konger Jun Li bagged the best director award for his same-sex drama "Queerpanorama", which had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
Taiwanese star Chang Chen took his second best leading actor title for playing an immigrant delivery man in New York in "Lucky Lu", directed by Korean-Canadian Lloyd Kee Choi, who was awarded best new director.
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