War Frenzy Erupts In Chinese Social Media After Blackout Drill In Province Near Taiwan

China on Tuesday held an emergency drill in preparation for potential blackouts in Fujian, a province across Taiwan Strait, stoking an online frenzy in state-monitored Chinese social media that a war is looming.

The drill, one of the largest ever recent years, simulated a possible large-scale power outage in the Fujian caused by a typhoon and "external damage," reported South China Morning Post.

The report, quoting state-run Fujian Daily, added that level-two emergency response for rescue and power restoration was also launched as part of the drill.

The drill by the Fujian provincial government and the local office of China’s State Grid simulated rescues after power cuts on offshore islands. Emergency responses to terrorism, cyberattacks, and blackouts at hazardous chemical plants were also included.

The news of the drill amid high tension in the Taiwan Strait sent the Chinese social media into a frenzy as many users speculated a possible outbreak of war with Taiwan. The drill was trending on Weibo with over three million views and 1,200 comments by Wednesday.

"We must stay alert to the possibility that our power facilities will be targeted amid Taiwan retaliations or US intervention," said one user on Weibo, China's version of Twitter.

Another user commented that the simulation was needed to prevent both "Taifengs," which means both typhoons and "crazy Taiwanese" in Mandarin.

The Fujian province lies across the Taiwan Strait, and the mainland city of Xiamen in Fujian is only 2km from the Taiwanese-controlled island of Quemoy. China had recently conducted beach-landing and assault drills in Fujian, though the state did not link the exercises directly to the current tensions with Taipei.

Though the Fujian Daily said the drill was a test of the emergency plan for large-scale power outages in Fujian, such blackouts are rare in the province.

This comes a month after the Chinese government urged citizens to stock up on daily necessities. The directive fanned rumors of an imminent war with Taiwan. Hours later, text notifications claiming to be from the People’s Liberation Army asking reservists to be prepared for a draft also went viral.

However, the authorities soon stepped in to quell the rumors attributing the stockpile directive to surging COVID cases and adverse weather conditions. PLA-affiliated social media account Junzhengping too said the texts were fabricated.

Two days ago, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said a record 27 Chinese warplanes breached its air defense zone Sunday. The incursions also saw China's new aerial refueling tanker making its maiden appearance on the island.