Taiwan is strengthening the defenses of the Penghu Islands and training civilians to prepare for a potential Chinese attack.

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, that the strategically located archipelago, about 50 kilometers from Taiwan’s main island, is home to thousands of Taiwanese troops and could be among the first targets in any Chinese invasion.

Military exercises this month involved tanks, artillery, mortars and anti-ship missile systems.

Taiwan has also established its first drone force on the islands and is expanding civil-defense preparations for the approximately 110,000 residents. Volunteers are being trained in first aid, emergency repairs, distributing supplies and other crisis-response tasks.

Huxi township chief Chen Chen-chung said the islands would likely be targeted early in a conflict.

“We absolutely need to have a sense of crisis. The Penghu Islands would definitely be one of the first places attacked,” he said.

Reuters reported that a previous war game involving retired US, Taiwanese and Japanese military officials saw Penghu fall after one day of simulated Chinese attacks, highlighting concerns over the islands’ ability to withstand a large-scale assault.

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