(Newsworthy.news) – Amid ongoing tensions between China and the nearby island of Taiwan, civilians of the independent state are preparing for combat should the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) engage in forceful occupation of the island.
Although Taiwan operates independently from the mainland with its own elected leaders, the Chinese government has long identified itself as having sovereignty over the island and has pledged to regain control of it. Many Taiwanese civilians have responded to the potential military threat by preparing themselves to go to war.
The possibility of civilians fighting to defend their sovereignty was reinvigorated following the February 2022 Russian invasion, which sparked Ukrainian civilians to launch civil resistance. Recently, the Taiwanese have fallen prey to increasingly aggressive moves launched by the Chinese government, enhancing the apparent need to prepare for war.
Civilians are working alongside each other to hone their rifle skills to be ready for an invasion. The need for competent fighters stems from the significant discrepancy between the Taiwanese and Chinese military. Taiwan has only 160,000 active members of the military while China boasts two million members in its armed forces.
Taiwanese civilians are receiving support from Robert Tsao, a wealthy businessman and microchip tycoon, who has launched an initiative to build up his country’s civilian military. Through his Kuma Academy and other organizations, civilians are being trained as marksmen to prepare for combat.
Tsao—who donated $50 million (one billion Taiwanese dollars) to support this goal—has also made note of the potential to develop affordable drones with the help of local industries.
However, Taiwan is facing certain obstacles for effective training, even without the huge lack of military personnel and equipment compared to the CCP. Multiple legal restrictions hinder the passionate citizens from engaging in as realistic training as one might hope.
Such restrictions prevent the Taiwanese from independent ownership and use of firearms, leaving airsoft clubs as the single way for them to train in the technical skills necessary for engaging in combat with the Chinese military.
Copyright 2024, Newsworthy.news
