Former BBC Taiwan correspondent Cindy Sui meets two young Taiwanese voters, Shirley Lin and Dennis, who have very different views about the island, its future and its relationship with Mainland China. While one is a committed peace campaigner and seeks to reduce antagonism between Taiwan and China, the other has signed up to train with a citizen's army, to be ready for Chinese aggression. We follow them in their work, with their friends and hear their differing reflections on an island and an electorate being watched by a global audience.
This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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bbc pulp costs. I don't think it's mean eyes and they gave them
now is not the eyes
we're in a restaurant in taiwan's largest city, new Taipei
surely lynn a twenty five year old graduate student
is introducing me to one of her favorite dishes:
as the eyes of the squid that have been fried into little fry balls. Amazing, the ours is thrilled.
This is a very light is worth coming to taiwan
Intel
at one of two people who have allowed me to follow them for a few days at this moment
period in taiwan,
history ass, the island prepares.
twenty twenty four presidential.
Action next month. You have to think. How can I keep talons safe? How can I secure talents security and deal with the biggest threat from the other side if china wants to fight?
in my country, and I will fight back dennis. Is twenty eight in a computer software engineer for him? This is a time.
Existential threat for taiwan, a threat that he believes may require him to take up
to defend his country. If it happens,
I can now refuse it. So I just embracing and
wish. I care just hold this progress until
Maybe the war is coming here, maybe one day make them become our brother or even friend. This is what a responsible I think government has to think
I'm sindifu in this system
I commend tree on the BBC world service Ivan report.
About taiwan for fifteen years. For much of that time,
as the BBC's taipei base correspondent,
in the last two years have been by far
the most unsettling
the islands recent history took shape in nineteen forty nine, when chant, I shacks republic of china,
oh see sought refuge here
losing the chinese civil war with the communists which,
to the creation of the people's republic of china,
The p r c on the mainland.
the existence of the two china's has never
officially accepted by either side or
the international community as a whole under
hang and subsequent rulers.
Taiwan was effectively a one party states, but towards the end of the twentieth century,
it transitioned into a multi party democracy with elected president's beginning
in nineteen ninety six
increasingly that democratic
Some has seen rising tensions between the eye
and the mainland, and indeed
years. Those tensions have raised worries across the globe,
nancy policies. Delayed high profile visit was never without risk. China's anger has led to the. U s: ambassador delegation can vary, crowd, came to town
to make unequivocally clear will not banned
Our commitment to taiwan, I'm proud of
enduring friendship taiwan says chinese warplanes have entered it in space hours. After the. U S, speaker, Nancy Pelosi ended her controversial visit to the island. Beijing has said it will begin military ticket check
facing deliberately heightened military threats. Taiwan will not back down. We will first,
up, uphold our nations sovereignty and continue to hold the line of defence of democracy and for that
The voice was tying when the
president of the republic of China, who comes
The end of her eight year rule for months
after the election in january, whose
seats her and how he will address taiwan's relationship with china is what makes this,
J. Momentous election
especially after the visit of u S, speaker nets
policy in twenty
me too,
presence on the island cause they mark
escalation in the war of words and milk
ray exercises on both sides with her wrists,
hiding in ukraine and the middle EAST. There are fears that the
We could see another war break out here in taiwan
so ass, a presidential election approaches or
retie taiwanese people like Dennis and surely
pairing to make an important choice, but there are
taking action themselves and David,
me to follow them to understand the challenges they face at the heart of taiwan's democratic balancing
rubbing
It's a sunday a day,
taiwanese people like to relax, go shopping or watch a movie instead
send his girlfriend. Cocoa have signed a foreign
all day class at a coma academy.
the academy is in profit group set up in twenty twenty one by two academics, who believe that the
Sway to maintain peace is to prepare for war
that includes training not only the soldiers but also civilians, to defend taiwan. The aim is to prepare up to three million people.
about a seven of the population in civil defence within three years.
that's an ambitious goal, but after policies visit,
captain we got a donation of eighteen million dollars from the taiwanese
billion year to scale
strain,
though today's session, as in preparation for war, the atmosphere is lively rather than for this
The training course is about evacuation,
in how to survive.
the exercise now, is to write down the blood type of people and their specialty, and what they're good at doing and Dennis is sort of
the team leader in his written down everyone's and his teens blood type
One person is good at management. The person is a housewife heaving
sure tat. She was not sure why she would be good. He said very
cooking and we need people to cook in evacuations.
the
so Dennis. Tell me about yourself
ever since then, and I work in financial stop star and from an from an engineer taking a product manager, I used to work in china. I working in beijing's argumentative reality
I stock only a r started as a hobby as owned by a chinese company owned by a chinese company. So I have some experience in china was that your first time in in china is now my first day in China, because my ex girlfriend is in sun,
It seemed tiny, such unlike some province on problems, diseases dennis medicine
ex girlfriend from the chinese mainland at university, but it was because
his work and software development that he became inch.
In moving there too started.
company. First, I just get a tour to maybe go to beijing, so these groups approach you because you are ended. Our high tech field and you're interested in doing start ups and china is trying to attract taiwanese
I want to go to the mainland, you can say about. The first is dress or toy Jos introduced, like some students about their start in beijing. So I just gather info shipped to beijing and this kind of group lay
this stuff, but they also have tried to tell China is good and maybe taiwanese is not fair.
Tell me why you here today, because
friend, and I we found out that taiwan is very thin
jazz situation at first, because the present an addiction is.
Atomic right, but most candidate there
Yes is is Harvard china, so we
very worried about what you're saying is.
think taiwanese. People are too like complacent tie to it always shin. Yes, yes
in this exercise structures that war has just broken out right here and your job is a vacuum.
Hair out immature
although the atmosphere on the sunday course is animated. The substance is deadly. Serious similar groups have pop
up, including some that teach people how to fire guns. When
for the results of the elections there now
thousands of trainees who are ready to defend and protect himself
and their homeland against what they fear. Isn't it
seeing the aggressive china
north of taiwan's capital, Taipei, close to the northern coast of the island, is the camp
If Dunne's young university
it was surely Lynn is studying for her masters degree at a unit,
studies graduate institute of international affairs and strategic studies
I surely I said you won't come to finally meet you in person. I thank you for coming and so is my institute messages at the twelfth floor, and this is just the entrance. What with very here is a bus
g by monk, most people in taiwan when I think about strategy that thing about military strategy, bad for us later, not just it
we have a national security strategy. We have diplomatic strategy cell,
while we learn is not just military, but also how to maintain peace and stability, but also prepare for a possible war. No, I wants war
right and we go upstairs and you can explain that more to me, yeah shit. Let's go.
that's the river we're riding up the elevator to the twelfth floor with the graduate institute is right: yes, yeah, and this building and dusted the downstream river. Isn't it yeah and you can see the mouths of the potential everybody's just right there right. I got there later. The ship
surely brackets herself with a mature
of taiwanese around sixty percent, who say there
favour of maintaining the political status quo, in other words
keeping taiwan's status as a self governing de facto country in all, but name and resist
both unification with china and formal independence, but before we sit down to talk,
She invited me to join her in one of her student passions a properly brood cup of tea. This tea, I think, is from tied joan is all taiwanese. People are very proud of their tea
It is grown like in a much more natural way, some of them. Some people have told me, then,
Mainland china didn't use pesticides in many of the farms face very subjective. You know like in the EU.
With tee in hand and a view over the coastline would have done
river meat?
Taiwan's straight? We settled
to chat- and I play for surely one of the tip
international reports on tension.
in taiwan.
The views in this case from the united states, China began doing something new and April, and may chinese ariel Sharon's went further than ever before, considering the entire island, but father just for detecting on the east coast. Military experts I want, is always rely on its mountainous terrain,
The natural shield, in the event of an attack looking towards east, is the most severe and are so many ways I mean I've seen a lot of bad.
Simple warfare across the talent straight and how do you feel
When you hear so much about potential war breaking out between mainland china and taiwan, I feel very tired
of it because in a no one is talking about how we can prevent the war from here.
And I think this very nice
sorry, one professor once
when we learn those internet,
Relations theories and
When we are learning strategies, we have to think how to make peace instead of waging a war
and so in always study the art of war by since it as well- and you know it since it does not encourage war, he argues to you
strategy to defeat your enemy and waging a war is actually the last resort.
We think that taiwan and mainland china are doing enough to prevent a war.
not end the rest of the world too, especially the united states and the EU.
Maybe not enough, like Dennis sure
Few of china and its relationship with Taiwan is informed by her own personal experience of travelling. There
her take away from meeting mainland chinese people is that the issue
Taiwan's status doesn't have
be decided now. She hoped for
More gradual resolution, pray,
when the younger generations,
both sides get to know each other. In fact,
a better way than the current leaders.
My family didn't
really mention anything bad about china when you were growing up. Did you see yourself as taiwanese chinese or
When he's an chinese.
Tell our knees, but with chinese cultural background and so
My impression on china now wasn't bad.
And then, when I entered school I learn
China, many for my textbooks and one my teachers taught me so your parents
took you to china, even though Taiwan is right next to mainland china. No, no, it did you,
go on holiday at all. Did you found me go on holiday at all? I, yes, but just in taiwan, not china, and if you had
the chance to go abroad for holiday. Would your family choose mainland china not
wait wait. We would show us like Japan or may
in south east asia. I guess maybe with
the same language site where you go
China, you don't think you are going abroad
I went to china this july only as an adult. The first idea is the first time and then I feel like
slagging time why another salary, just that accident,
the man who in active memory accident Israel, different from taiwan and food, is different as well the taste of of it
it's different, but the dishes are very similar. Somebody dishes, yes and so on
he'll like really going abroad visit
in somewhere. They speak the same language as you do
when you were growing up. Besides the textbooks, did you have any kind of interaction with china,
yeah. Oh, when I was on a grand, I had classmates from men in china in taiwan and ozone canada, so we
I got it on with them very well. We were
friends, and then we will we seldom talk about. Politics spoke when we talk about politics. We
cousin while we learned at school and that's what I think and then we don't
I do
we know- and I mean a quarrel, so you didn't feel like any kind of divide between you and then no bed.
If we talk about like while we learned back home, then it will be very different.
Then naturally, thing that Taiwan is part of china because of their what did learn at school and I think tat one is taiwan.
and our national mammies republic of china and we are a country, and so
since the difference, I feel when I talk to them when I
Well, as in china, this july I talked to a clerk at team, hortense a canadian cafe shop, and then
he was talking to me and then he sat in these it
it's ok. We are like one family
So you know that it's is embedded in their songs,
back at the tumor academy, Dennis prepares for conflict
rather than biking barking commands
tourists use humour to downplay the
reality
facing one of the most powerful armies on earth in coping with possible injury like Dennis, are taught to lift the person.
The back one person were wholly both of their arms lifted from the back and eighty percent.
odin from their lakes. Now it's time for students to demonstrate what they just learned
This is paying up with a couple of male students. Here then, this is quite tall and his politely offer to be the one doing the lift
despite a bigger man in his classic
you don't want to try and lifting, because
having happy to have yoga okay I'll go
carpet here this fast. They ve been his niece one class.
Scrapped and from the back onto his arms, because in his arms and holding onto his arms and yet a classmate separated makes it was left him appointed son.
I'll get you. Thank you. Thank you.
Yes, I'm worry about a war may be happening: twenty twenty, seven or maybe later bigger
reason that china is not good inside your country, right, you're fired
press of shipping, and I will try to reverse the attention in diverse diverse the intention in second sight, so Taiwan may be a good option to die for
people's attention- people's us genesis, theory that war could happen soon,
be used as a diversion away from china's economic challenges stems from common
made by a retired. U S, admiral and a general debate
is planning to launch an invasion of taiwan by twenty twenty seven or
as early as twenty twenty five, I have read news and sees you too, and it says that
key twenty seven in the usa, because in the congress, asylum generals and sound, though make
have mentioned It- twenty twenty seven. China has the power to jars fight a word with taiwan,
it just gimme his insurance. So I think it really jars made me
worry about it, so I just come to study in the market if
happens. I can say that a recent review it so
embracing, and if maybe
try and I want to just fight in my country- and I won't fibre-
the? U s. Government has repeatedly stated that such claims about a war in the next few years do not report.
the view of the administration- and it doesn't
china is planning an imminent attack on this.
Lines of a meeting in san francisco in November china
the presidency's ping told you s, president Joe Biden
that there are no such plants behalf
poorly laid out the conditions under which force.
could be used, and one of those is
I really believe to be a formal declaration of independence by taiwan. Sees attempts to
spell. Speculation might not risk
people like denison cocoa, whose
Convinced that he might try to take
back Taiwan militarily even
like other chinese leaders she has indicated he preferred-
peaceful reunification
but he s
these closing message, the academy structured, maintains the mix of humor and straight talking,
I wish you a safe and he says
paying your taxes to fund the war effort,
final message from this structure is: don't surrender
I'll, try to stay alive. My bonnet,
ass. We left the building denison cocoa,
clearly energized by today's training.
we're convinced than ever that they have to
or for war. If we look back now
We can do in russia
yeah yeah yeah yeah, because he has
concept lad
Asian ancient weakling is rush.
us area. I think that she jumping is
idea that taiwan used to be
china and there
the same kind of people saw, I sing. It
really a high potential that it will be worth saw.
I just enjoy the moment and prepare myself. You don't believe
any chance at maintaining peace. I think it is hard. I think it is hard because if Taiwan's,
Terry force is going better
better and china cannot just chess over it. I think we will have peace, but if not, I think the world really is coming
something mysterious plagues county mayo on the west coast of ireland and its legendary gaelic football team. I believe in the cars yeah. I think it's real. Is it
asked superstition, or could there be more to it? Sometimes
I think that something sinister gonna. What do you mean
to do so. Women all on final familiar, listened
curious tale of the male curse on amazing,
fort stories from the BBC world service, sir
four amazing sport stories. Wherever you got your bbc podcast.
tonight
in arkansas there's another talking in her daughter and turning off the light. A business owners burning the midnight oil and at home dinner date is playing a possibility and it's all happening under one roof. How the power.
of a conversation like the one john from integrity solutions had with first rise and bank about his vision for a sustainable makes to use building? Now it's
just words its life first, her
bank. Let's find away gotta. First, the dot com, slash john first John bank member, if the icy tired of it
its barging in to your favorite news broadcasts, good news,
ad free listening on amazon music is included with your prime membership, just
the amazon, dot com, slash ad free news, bod to catch up on the latest episode without the ads
and without an acre shows every the concepts such as we have that.
This is like friday night in Taipei, and one of the most popular districts in Taiwan seem ending a hot spots. Some most people here I see around me on a young people and lots of billboards showing fashionable models and who looking people welcome back to documentary on the BBC world service,
I'm cindy sue and with the help of
two young voters, surely
Dennis. I am trying to understand more about the upcoming elections in taiwan and the best.
sing out the island faces in china.
To decide
kind of relationship should have with its neighbour china.
Although election posters showing smiling party candidates,
And catchy slogans are also
everywhere,
Pay remains, is bustling, busy self
and surely lynn and her friends are having a night out in a pot
The collar K bar instead
damn
Who, in the january when he saw
by taiwanese singer and is an odi. What is it about love so from your when your parents finish, the
why
ass, the
sway and seen together. It's easy to think they have.
not a care in the world.
And yet surely and her friends are thinking very carefully about your vote.
and they have real frustrations of the way pollen,
it works in taiwan.
the senior party
birds
deal wheeled significant influence and mostly
Young people don't like that. They want to see more new political figures which can bring new like hope for them. I don't see options that I think is good enough
to have taiwan to face the challenges in the future,
still I'll wait for you to see their platforms and then I think, is better
in order to know all the candidates, ideas on cross trade issues and some domestic issues and then make your decision will not put up for multi year triple fleets that young such weapons
being a total fasten. It three that that day, while fighting I'm finished
Taiwan's current president time, when represents the
The aquatic progressive party, the deep is
ultimate ambition is that Taiwan should be formally independent from china and russia
nice by the world as a soft
country, a direct challenge too
she of mainland china.
The president's highs eight years in power, the tension
between the island and the mainland have increased her second term.
office will end soon and the deputy
has nominated vice president lighting due to be its press.
Then show candidate
running against him, is the mayor of new Taipei city hall. You e of the globe
down or cam tea party. They are not
confrontational towards china and instead argue for
reduction intentions and a restoration of good relations with beijing that their party achieved in the past. A third party
taiwan people's party or t p
also favours restoring dialogue with beijing. Its candidate is
We're taipei, mayor, goings on
is way more complicated than that with talks between.
Empty and tv to form a coalition to united
Sixty percent of voters who want the ppp defeated
breaking down recently in his soul,
opera style trauma or the stuff of democratic process.
But there is one thing that unites: surely and her friends and death
the police that taiwan status does not have to be decided now? Are you pro independence?
now that the venture, so you favour eventually independent way thy way
in the future, maybe fifty years later or hungry, as it is, but I think that just need to these yea. I didn't check the ministry of national defense's website today, but I just kind of stopped checking after a while, because every day they always issue reports about how many chinese fighter jets and warplanes are flying
near Taiwan's aerospace and sometimes even crossing the median line in the taiwan strait between the two sides. This happening every day, but you guys don't seem to be.
is anybody
It always excellent.
Well, you know you have to relax.
You can always live under anxiety. My mother is very worried. Junior
what, though it does a river and jewels worry that maybe china.
Come so does everybody is the most nearly they can yeah.
We are not worried, but we want
I didn't know that
after a day of survival, training at the coma academy Dennis and his
friend, cocoa shared more of their views with me over dinner
strong in Taipei. Not though go you are,
favours the ruling party, not just because
the opposition to china, but because
He feels it has managed to rally support from some western countries for taiwan and evening.
Hurt to use the name. We always use chinese taipei.
Our nan is highway. So if I can, we just say who we are through that way. So I think it is a grave, a grandma viagra movie yeah, because after a few years out, we have so song result. It is,
because international society it lay that taiwan is so. I think it is a good investment
by that time may be, is it'll, be
risky move, the dpp always than I care to the restaurant that they want taiwan, independence and many people really doesn't like China. Maybe unite taiwan. This idea of fall fourteen.
It is a good strategy to win votes because you have to be anti china, yes, and to kind of promote this fear about china. I think for younger
We I've boy united, when
about our our stands for taiwan, cocoa comes from a home. We,
The discussion is lively and often divided.
I think the elder sister, like my parents, actually my mom and dad they have the deeper in albania. My daddy's more sense for president tie. My mom just think that the president's high than making taiwan and more dangerous, so your parents have different political views. Yes, when I talk about it,
With my family, we usually avoid talking you behold me, but my mom is not: thou shalt she's, not book anti, but she's, not all call for what did it uses. Maybe my mom. Don't care available swinging the elect
or not they just one our economy getting better. So, I think, is a different stance
for me. I want to understand the future leader
china s thoughts, that's how
You build trust and avoid misperception. If you cut all these exchange
These then, are no chance for us too, to know each other. Surely like denison, cocoa has tickets
paternity to travel to mainland china and to get to
the country and its people she's disappointed
president ties eight years in office, there's been an f.
To design a size, taiwan and a big trop in a number.
of people from both sides who cross
the taiwan strait and get a deeper
the setting of their neighbour, which jaime's people we care about connections, one she glanced. She I dont know how to translate this into english, but we say to mean something: when you see a person in failing to face to face then create some sort of connection
I think it also very important for both sides. We need need younger generations to start talking. They try to build your idea that your your talent, you have nothing to do with china, china to do with chinese culture culture. Does it s good? Because history has these cutting nudity, we can say how we has nothing to do with chinese culture.
our ancestors, came from men in china. I don't think it is ok to ignore the history and our connection with the meddling,
not all the chinese people want
jill war against taiwan. So one day when I
generation become the leader of our country. This kind of connection can help to build a kind of senses avoid misperceptions of for both sides and then that there would be our foundations to you know, move forward together.
Instead of fighting every day. Tell me what it's like growing up in taiwan. Thinking
Taiwan is a country just like any other country
realizing, maybe from textbooks of the new
That is not. How does that make you feel I first got mess.
Our task is not a country during the sauce. I fear
We are abandoned, sars
severe acute respiratory syndrome,
disease that emerged in china and asia towards the end
two thousand and two is some
refer to as the first pandemic of the twenty first century, but right
the disease itself, it was the way
Taiwan was treated that affected
as a young boy. He grew up to become
part of a segment of taiwan's society that,
first, formal independence
According to the latest government service, they comprise about twenty five percent of the popular
as we saw on the t, v huron try to help the world and maybe to get some more information from the douglas show, because that we are not
the country, so we cannot attend the meeting
I have no more communication with other that really make new disappoint, because I mean kidding gathering
many foreign teacher. Allow teach us that english or maybe play we still say we just like friends, and so they have taught us that
we are global village.
In a moment now. I saw the news and we know- maybe he just pretty life good,
about fetish. Yes, sir
in countries not for taiwan.
That is important for taiwan to be a country if function
as a country
The name is on military,
this constitution as its own parliament.
Presidents and you haven't you-
you function pretty much like a country.
If your girlfriend's ass you, where will we get a merry and huge s reply? We are
in love now- and we are very happy with it,
lots of things together, and you just
We are married, and I think most of the girl for us, or maybe other
upon earth when that was
this answer and it
then for us, because marriage is a drastic
from others. So I think we still around other a country to admit
we are the do you believe that in your lifetime,
I want to achieve the goal that you have. True. Independence is being recognised.
I think, maybe we can achieve it bob. I cannot penetrate it right now. I hope
I often I can see this moment coming. So what is light life
an ordinary couple in taiwan living under the threat of a path
china invasion. I think we all used to it. We don't
I very much other by they still thing about, like the inflation in taiwan, and actually,
working hours taiwanese also I stressful and also the price of real asset.
Even ordinary, upon men outside
urban areas, Taipei. Actually, we cannot afford the price
knowing what's going to happen in taiwan in the next few years.
hearing you S, admiral
I was u s. Generals predict that beijing will attack twenty twenty five or twenty twenty seven
you think twice about starting a family having maris fibre.
Having children or not. I think
more critical issue, because, yes, you
If you don't want your child born
he or she has to guess through they suffer sizing
I'm sorry for china's potential attack will prolong the plan that I want to give birth or not.
Now we have raised a cat together is none, is albert, almost unbelievable outbursts, the and egypt,
like our child. So
when we today tat s about how to prepare the rag bag package.
we always say goodbye.
maybe that means you're ready to be parents. Yes, as we finish our desert, I asked cocoa if her for,
they ethical. My academy had changed.
Ideas and plants, maybe before attending leaf worse,
my positions and my sense as more
I will surrender to china.
Because I actually staying shanghai for many years. I do
some clothes chinese friends and I do love you. Shall I see the talking about China? I don't have the negative thought, maybe just
president, she made me feel threatened, but I I
hey, greece, contrary he's the one,
to remain separate
people think that politics is involved. The two
I don't have to watch down the road of war that they can actually sit back
reduce tensions and each
given a little bit. You see no way to preserve peace. No way the two sides can work out some kind of compromise. I don't think that it will eventually be a peaceful way, but I think for china stand, I I always believed
that too
I take take over taiwan is what they must do. If, if president is still in his position, yeah at least sixty eight chinese fighter jets are reported to have crossed into taiwanese controlled airspace. The united states face a commitment to taiwan that is rock solid and over
many years has contributed to the maintenance of peace and stability across the taiwan strait and within the region. What is never sound is whether the united states would in fact come to taiwan's defence militarily, and it sat ambiguity which has been maintained for many years, that the whole delicate balance rests on you.
Secretary of state, anthony blinking in general,
isabel hilton, just
of the many voices to be heard when
hi one and its future are discussed.
On the global stage. For sure,
Lee is a more immediate voice, that of her lecture,
professor yang Yolen, who was in it
office ass. She showed me around bans. Young university
professor lynn, as an expert in military strategy, particularly that of the p o ay
the people's liberation army of china and he was
happy to share his thoughts about
china, my attack the island. If it came to that.
right down to the landings on the so called red beaches, one of which
within five kilometres of the university campus first, they would try to bracket pie one seconds. They will be using the messiah to attack taiwan and then the third believe they will be using the air force bomber and final mending. But I sing the lending will be. The final plan is pilot, peck taiwan. They will be done
Using traditional lending strategy so sometimes is not only will be using the red beach we have
in taiwan. Averment we have to let our security be link with other countries, for example Japan, for example, korea. If the talent can be more to lead the taiwan, the pomp and we'll be become international private, maybe it is, can belated tat beijing to cancel he's a military attack? So sometimes that is, I call our deterrence deterrent strategy
I'd say on screen and as we can and does it make. You worry that your campus is right near one of the so called red beaches
the piano can actually tried and
a land invasion. Yes, of course, if I'm here
then I will be maybe the first target. Would you consider
taking up arms if it came to that.
I don't know how to use guns, but I'm my want
support our soldiers via medical,
support. Yes,
is literally a fifteen minute. Try from surely university too.
Those so called red beaches very peaceful, very
different from the noise and the traffic of taipei. Everything this place should be the very beautiful spots for a family or friends to get that
if there's a wall here, my be graves for our soldiers and that that's really a you know sad before the war in ukraine will only learn about war on textbooks. Now you see a worrying trend now count
between Israel and Hamas. You feel like it's really easy for a war to break out and is very, very real. Have you and your brother
talked about, and your mom and dad talked about what would happen if a war does break up. Have you guys even broach the subject of what he should do
Should he leave taiwan? Should he finer excuse not to fight? Have you guys even talked about as a family? We do
We don't have the money to flight or escape to other countries, so we'll try to survive.
And I think that that's all we want to do if a war breaks out still live with it. Just came, maintain some dead and he ll go to a war, and then maybe you he's not going to come back. However, scary thoughts.
This is the martyrs shine. Is a vast thirty
three thousand square metre park?
The more you in nineteen
sixty nine to commemorate order. Soldiers who died in the wars that the republic of china now in taiwan, thoughts in its history, situate,
at the foot hills in western taipei does enlarge
ass, lined with flags of the republic of china, is a red white and blue flags
the buildings here are in the traditional or nay chinese style, with
been yellow roofs and tall red pillars
their stone, lions guarding at the base of the stone steps leading up to the main hall with a wooden placards. No here a spirit tablets of the deceased soldiers are kept. The shine pace respects to the soldiers who were killed in the various
Wars are the aral sea fought starting with the nineteen eleven revolution in which it overthrew.
China's last emperor and its last dynasty teaching dynasty leading to the funding of the republic of china in nineteen eleven. Then it went on to fight the second synergy
when war, but all law, it was fighting to twenty two year, chinese civil war, which continue to fight, after defeating the japanese and nineteen forty five arches.
the nationalists and the communist. Both sides suffered a total
Only three million casualties, including some six hundred thousand soldiers,
if civilian casualties are included, the losses,
been greater.
was war and the threat of war. So much a part of our conversations. I invite a surely and denis to meet me admiral.
The shrine, I sing, I'm very grateful for what they have done for us, how to say that the growth is not good to to go to ballet jazz. Why would you not use it yeah yeah they choose to temple. Is people ask them for this country and try to make the work better, so I sing a really grateful. I can cherish what they have done for us. Are you worried that you might become one of them if war breaks out between the two sides of the taiwan straits? I'm now really afraid because lay become spirits lie just remind us that the laboratory is not long. We have to fight for it. You're not born with liberty. Yeah well not been wasted liberty
We need to fight to get it, but if we just given to sound cycle neighbour, then we just give up all right if they represent two sides of the taiwanese debate dennis dinner,
All this keen for independence and shit
the more moderate figure seeking stability and com?
lies with china.
That doesn't mean she's any less informed or moved by what she saw. These are the spirit tat its spirit,
how to address is essential. Since my kids,
So many placards spare tablets
all along the walls of the halls behind them
many families. I don't want my friends or rather stay with this, just really
find me that if there's a war or any emergency happening to taiwan, then you know I would be also part of it. You have to you need to play your role. You know for your country, I'm not sure. If I'll have the courage, hopefully it won't come to that right right here, you see those monitors, and then you realize the value of
What struck both of us we set. The shrine was essentially the story of
for sacrifice those people who died were mostly young men from their twenties to fourteen,
The same age as I am now
it's really in salt, provoke
I've seen them dying for a country I gonna hold dead
people from my generation can escape did the rest,
and consequences of wars, and then
We want to try to find a way.
to maintain peace and stability, Alfred Taiwan, getting
no denison, shirley I've.
To understand how similar day are, despite their different views.
Fishes may diverge on the best way forward.
Perhaps is the nature of democracies that choices
to be made which are more black,
Why do people might wish for dennis, maybe
hearing, a wartime evacuation pack.
while surely strives for calm, but both want peace, and both are proud
of their island home? What divides them? And perhaps
the final time once balancing act, ass people prepare for the election is their idea of what is the best way to maintain that peace
well. Service documentary was presented by cindy sue. The producer was tom, open,
and
cyclists dreams of turning his passion into a business. He can tell us banker to help find the best path. Now, bike wheels are being built and all it took was a little push to get rolling first, her,
bank. Let's find a way
but a first horizon dot com, slash, clint, tired of it,
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Transcript generated on 2023-12-11.