Unsolicited missive penned by [Author's Name]

Staying Strong in the Storm: A Taiwanese Mother's Plea

I've been living in Taiwan for 45 years and never felt so close to a storm until now. As a middle-aged mother with a child in preschool, watching China flex its muscles and aim to seize our free Taiwan - or force us to yield peacefully - stirs up a whirlwind of anxiety.

China's warplanners have long had Taiwan in their sights, subtly shifting the political landscape through sneaky tactics. Witness the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), forcibly pushing through amendments, unconstitutionally expanding their powers, and diluting our democracy's essential safeguards.

The KMT plays a dangerous game, systematically weakening our defenses and undermining our state's structure in their quest to wrest control and bring Taiwan under their thumb, much like they did in Hong Kong.

Infiltrating from within, China prepares for war by implementing a ruthless campaign of Sinicization and ideological reprogramming in Tibet, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang. More than just cultural suppression or ethnic cleansing, this strategy strips various ethnic groups of their spirit in an effort to silence dissent and gain focus for their ultimate goal.

Knowing the high price of invading Taiwan, China seeks a more clandestine victory. By supporting covert operatives within Taiwan, they wage psychological warfare - sowing discord, creating conflict, and fostering self-doubt among Taiwanese, even questioning the legitimacy of defending our nation. If we stay silent or turn on each other, China may get its first taste of Taiwan without lifting a finger.

In the past year, Chinese military aircraft have violated Taiwan's air defense identification zone an alarming 3,075 times - a staggering 81% increase from 2023. Faced with such a grave threat, why blindly slash our military budget?

How can anyone blame Taiwan, claiming that we are the ones instigating the conflict?

Imagine if your child constantly faced bullying at school. Would you stand by and tell them to put up with it without a fight?

If you wouldn't advocate such timidity for your child, then rally your courage for Taiwan. This moment demands action - starting with a recall campaign, critically evaluating the media we consume, physically, mentally preparing ourselves, and gathering an emergency survival kit - because we must fiercely protect Taiwan, our homes, and our loved ones. Let's defend our nation together, and may Taiwan prosper.

Chen Yu-chen

Taipei

Additional Facts:

Italy recently signed a bilateral agreement with Taiwan on scientific and technical cooperation, backtracking on a decision made under its previous government to avoid official ties with the island[1].
The United States continues to support Taiwan's self-defense, recently providing it with new military hardware and technology to fend off threats from China[6].
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has proposed a phased plan to create a new missile defense system, upgrading the island's air and land defense capabilities to better contend with Chinese aggression[7].
Despite facing increasing military and political pressure from China, Taiwan's economy remains strong, with stable growth and solid foreign relations[8].

War-and-conflicts are heightened as China's military aircraft violate Taiwan's air defense identification zone an alarming 3,075 times, a 81% increase from 2023, stirring up tension in the region.
Politics and general news highlight the complexities of the Taiwanese situation, with Italy recently signing a bilateral agreement with Taiwan on scientific and technical cooperation, while the United States continues to support Taiwan's self-defense by providing new military hardware and technology to fend off Chinese threats.