Taiwan studies Ukraine's experience in case of Chinese invasion
Photo: Taiwan studies Ukraine's experience in case of Chinese invasion (Getty Images)
Taiwan is learning from companies in Ukraine that continue operating while the country fights against Russia. The island is accelerating emergency planning amid growing threats from China, informs Reuters.
China considers democratically governed Taiwan its territory and has increased military pressure on the island in recent years, including conducting multiple rounds of large-scale military exercises.
"We hope to learn from Ukraine's first-hand experiences - how private companies helped build the resilience of its government and society during wartime," said a senior Taiwanese security official.
The official pointed to companies in Ukraine, including Uber and Microsoft, which continued providing essential services.
Among the ideas Taiwan is adopting from Ukraine are integrating supermarkets into the state supply distribution network and using taxi services for medical emergencies, such as blood donations when the healthcare system is overwhelmed.
The official stated that the government is working on establishing connections between Taiwanese companies and their counterparts in Ukraine to help Taiwanese firms quickly improve emergency planning.
"We have the will to fight, and now we must also look closely into our will to prepare," the official said. Taiwan is modernizing its air raid warning systems and shelters, taking lessons from Northern European and Baltic countries, he added.
Taiwan’s plans
This week, a closed-door preparedness seminar was held in Taipei, covering stockpiling and civil defense. The event was attended by Taiwanese security officials and high-ranking diplomats from the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Andy Hunder, head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine and a speaker at the seminar, told journalists that the Taiwanese government must establish backup online systems, pointing to Russian cyberattacks that aimed to paralyze Ukraine’s infrastructure before the first missile strikes.
"What we have seen is that during World War Two, the safest place for critical infrastructure is down in the tunnels. Today, the safest infrastructure is in the clouds," Hunder said, adding that payment services like Mastercard and Visa continued operating and ensured financial stability.
When asked how Taiwan’s government should prepare, he highlighted key sectors such as technology, banking, food, delivery, and retail.
Background
Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared Taiwan an "integral part of China" and expressed his intention to reunify the island with China’s communist regime.
