Taiwan Church News Edition 3766 April 29 ~ May 5, 2024 W eekly Topical Taiwan’s Civilian Defense Initiatives Supported Across the Aisle Reported by Lin Yi-ying In order to prepare Taiwan ready for China’s military aggression, build up solid civilian consensus and resolute social actions to defend the island, especially in an era facing China’s incessant infringement and hegemonic threatening, a national forum of civilian defense across party stripes is scheduled to be held in the fall. Inviting the legislators across the aisle to attend the impending civilian defense forum, a team of civilian defense campaigners visited the Legislative Yuan on April 23. These civilian defense campaigners and groups are Dr Tsai Ming-hsien, former minister of Ministry of National Defense (MND); Rev Zeng Kuo-chong, former Legislator; Rev Lin Wei-lien, secretary of the PCT Church and Society Committee; Academia Formosana; Forward Alliance; Watch Out; Taiwan Militia; Taiwan Action Training Academy; Taiwan Association of University Professors and etc. Meanwhile, the Academia Formosana passionately urged the church pastors to join its “Ark Plan”. During this parliamentary visit, the civilian defense campaigners delivered their appeals and forum invitation to legislators across the aisle including DDP members: MP Wang Ding-yu, convening member of the National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee. MP Shen Bo-yang, MP Chen Guan-ting, MP Hong Shen-han, MP Huang Jie; TPP members: MP Wu Chun-cheng and MP Lin Yi-jun, and KMT member, MP Jiang Chi-chen, vice president of the Legislative Yuan. All MPs expressed their affirmation and support for the initiative of civilian defense and the significant commencement of Civilian Defense Forum, believing that under China’s military and provocative coercions, Taiwan must unite together to fight against this bellicose enemy claiming to annex Taiwan. Dr Tsai Ming-hsien stressed to the legislators that Taiwan’s policy of civilian defense must go beyond party stripes and disputes, and the Legislative Yuan needs to pass relevant package of policies before it can be implemented effectively. He also pointed out that civil society actively promotes civil defense training, though, the activities of civilian defense require financial support and technical cooperation from the MND before the public can participate in shooting trainings and tactical drills. In addition to his thanksgivings to legislators for their support, Dr Tsai remarked, based on these legislators’ consensus he would visit relevant government departments to promote the education and training of civilian defense. Dr Tsai expressed that the “Civilian Defense Forum” will be held this fall and plan to implement regular trainings of civilian defense in the future. During the 69th PCT General Assembly held at Changhua Christian Hospital on April 16, Dr Tsai reported to President-Elect VP Lai Ching-te on the urgency of civilian defense and the preparations for its impending forum. VP Lai Ching-te listened to him carefully and expressed his agreement in the meeting. . Rev Lin Wei-lien expressed, through the PCT’s coordination, many civilian groups currently engaged in civilian defense programs are willing to participate in the preparation of the impending Civilian Defense Forum. He pointed out that civilian defense is a critical project jointly advocated by the late Professor Albert Lin, founder of the Urban and Rural Mission Movement (URM) in Taiwan, and former PCT general secretary Rev. Lyim Hung-tiong for many years, which major purpose is to ensure Taiwan’s sovereignty not to be annexed by force from China. Meanwhile, in a civilian defense assembly, held by the PCT Hualien Missionary Alliance at Tafalong Church of ‘Amis Presbytery on April 20, Dr Samuel Morpheus, CEO of Academia Formosana and deacon of Wen-Shan Church in Taipei Presbytery, called the PCT pastors to join the “Ark Plan” promoted by Academia Formosana in cooperation with the PCT. “Ark Plan” is a vision that the 1,300 Presbyterian churches across Taiwan can become the “Community Safety Map” for all Taiwanese people like Noah’s Ark, especially when Taiwan encounters an invasive war or devastating incident. For more details of the “Ark Plan”, reader is suggested to visit the official website of Academia Formosana. Translated by Peter Wolfe |