"Each Resident of Taiwan Becoming a Resistance Fighter: Gearing Up for Possible Chinese Invasion"
Taiwan Prepares for Potential Resistance Against Chinese Occupation
Taiwan is taking decisive steps to prepare its civilian population for potential resistance against a Chinese occupation. The island nation, known for its technological advancements and highly educated population, is drawing lessons from the Ukrainian resistance against Russia.
Large-Scale Drills and Civil Defense Education
Taiwan is conducting its most extensive annual military and civilian drills ever, involving over 20,000 reservists and extensive civil participation. These drills include practicing air-raid responses and testing the functionality of essential services in crisis scenarios [1][5]. The government is also focusing on robust civil defense education and communication strategies to create a unified and resilient public response [2].
Whole-of-Society Resilience
Taiwan's approach mirrors Ukraine's "swarm of bees" approach, where many entities work together to maintain strong morale and clear, consistent messaging to both domestic and international audiences. Public information campaigns and pre-war planning, such as Ukraine's immediate launch of official communication platforms after Russia's invasion, serve as models for Taiwan to maintain societal cohesion and international support during a conflict [2].
Hardened Infrastructure and Decentralization
On the military and operational side, Taiwan's defense strategy emphasizes distributed, hardened infrastructure, decentralization of critical nodes (like communications and data centers), and readiness to operate independently even if cut off from external trade. Anti-landing defenses, missile interceptions, and dispersed military assets aim to make an invasion costly and prolonged, increasing chances for effective civilian resistance and support for military operations [3].
Coordinated Civil Defense
To coordinate preparedness across society, Taiwan has established a civil defense committee led by President Lai Ching-te. This committee aims to ensure resilience in all sectors and reflect the urgency to build society-wide capacity to withstand and resist a potential Chinese attack [1][2].
Strategic Objectives of the Taiwan Resistance
The specific objectives of Taiwan's resistance will depend on the changing circumstances of the occupation. However, four principal strategic objectives stand out: supporting or enabling the defeat of the Chinese occupation force, maintaining the morale of the people, inspiring other countries to support Taiwan, and harassing and disrupting PLA and CCP operations on and around the island [4].
The Need for a Homegrown Resistance
It is crucial to note that resistance needs to be homegrown and organic to the place it occurs and the people who conduct it. Foreign supporters cannot want a free and independent Taiwan more than the people of Taiwan do [6].
Lessons from Ukraine
The situation in Ukraine offers valuable lessons for preparing civilians to resist before an invasion. Volunteers traveled east to fight in Ukraine's resistance, demonstrating the importance of a homegrown and organic movement [7]. The Ukrainian resistance movement also had a government-in-exile, which was the true government of Ukraine recognized as a legitimate sovereign authority by some but not all nations [8].
In conclusion, Taiwan's preparations for civilian resistance are comprehensive and well-thought-out. By conducting large-scale drills, implementing whole-of-society resilience strategies, hardening infrastructure, and coordinating civil defense at the highest levels, Taiwan is learning from the Ukrainian experience and preparing to resist a potential Chinese occupation effectively.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-will-hold-largest-ever-military-exercise-next-month-2021-06-11/ [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-prepares-for-resistance-against-china-using-ukraines-playbook-2021-06-15/ [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-will-defend-itself-if-china-invades-2021-06-10/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-prepares-resistance-against-china-using-ukraines-playbook-2021-06-15/ [5] https://www.npr.org/2021/06/11/1009909872/taiwan-says-it-will-hold-largest-ever-military-exercise-next-month [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-prepares-resistance-against-china-using-ukraines-playbook-2021-06-15/ [7] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/12/ukraine-war-volunteers-fighting-east-kiev-20141216423629491.html [8] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-media-center-emerges-promote-ukraines-cause-respond-russian-2014-02-19/
- Taiwan's strategy for potential resistance against Chinese occupation involves learning from Ukraine's approach, focusing on whole-of-society resilience, large-scale drills, and civil defense education.
- The island nation's military and operational strategy highlights decentralization, hardened infrastructure, missile interceptions, anti-landing defenses, and operating independently in crisis situations.
- In the context of counterterrorism and warfare, Taiwan's leadership is coordinating preparedness across society, with a civil defense committee led by President Lai Ching-te.
- The strategic objectives of Taiwan's potential resistance will revolve around supporting or enabling the defeat of the Chinese occupation force, maintaining morale, inspiring international support, and harassing and disrupting PLA and CCP operations.
- Lessons from Ukraine underscore the importance of a homegrown and organic resistance movement, as demonstrated by volunteers who fought in Ukraine's resistance.
- The Ukrainian resistance movement also established a government-in-exile, which was recognized as the legitimate sovereign authority by some nations, providing a potential model for Taiwan.
- The general news surrounding war-and-conflicts, politics, crime-and-justice, intelligence, and logistics all play significant roles in understanding Taiwan's preparations for potential resistance against Chinese occupation.
