Taiwan Church Communities Prepare for Possible Chinese Invasion

As China increases its military pressure on Taiwan, one grassroots initiative is preparing communities for a possible invasion.

Transcript

00:00In this Presbyterian church for indigenous people in eastern Taiwan, members are gathering

00:07not to study scripture, but war.

00:11Church pastor Zong Zhongde is concerned about the frequent reports of Chinese military planes

00:16flying near Taiwan, and believes the likelihood of China invading is increasing.

00:23He says the church network is a vital part of any resistance.

00:27It is true that we need to pray to God, but we still have a sense of crisis.

00:32It is very important for the church to be able to bring the community together.

00:40And sticking together is why Pastor Zong has invited congregations from across this largely

00:45rural county to come here, so they can prepare together in advance for any invasion.

00:52China claims sovereignty over democratic Taiwan, and vows to one day control it.

00:58These workshop attendees are doing tabletop war exercises, and they're learning that some

01:03of them could be collateral damage if China takes out a nearby air base with missiles.

01:09So the aim of the workshop is to get them to consider what they could do in such a scenario.

01:15The workshop is run by the Taipei-based academia Formosana, an organization set up a year ago

01:22by Laba Gao Talimalao, who left behind his life as a scholar to promote community-based

01:28civil defense.

01:30With this exercise, they can teach their own congregation members how to prepare.

01:38When people get together in a community, then you have more strength, skill, and resources.

01:47When all these strengths, skills, and resources are put together, you have a better chance

01:53to survive.

01:56Russia's invasion of Ukraine has increased interest in civil defense training among Taiwanese,

02:01who fear their large neighbor China could make good on its threats to take control of

02:06the island.

02:07But most of that training has focused on teaching individuals skills like first aid.

02:13The indigenous churchgoers attending this course are learning how they can work together

02:17in preparation for and during wartime, identifying locations to stockpile food, and setting up

02:25solar panels on their church roofs to counter power being knocked out.

02:43These church members leave the workshop vowing to pass on what they've learnt to their communities.

03:05Their focus is on their ultimate goal, to be ready for China, if or when it invades.

03:13Devon Tsai and Louise Watt for Taiwan Plus.