VISION

AUDIO

DAY 5

Creeping into the building

Peeking around corners – without Janice

SODLIERS ENTERING THE BUILDING

Day 5

Entering the building

Day 5

JANICE PTC

Tensions with China are running high here in Taiwan so I’ve come to this abandoned building to meet some gun enthusiasts who are prepping for war.

-- KICK THE DOOR --

MOVE IN, MOVE

TITLE: GUNNING FOR FREEDOM

Missile footage

News coverage of Chinese aircrafts

MISSILE SHOT

LIB 090423 RTV CHINA TAIWAN DRILLS_SBS_ID_21401377

AIRCRAFT

LIB 110423 RTV CHINA TAIWAN DRILLS CONCLUSION_SBS_ID_21444178

VO: China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be returned to Beijing's control

VO: And in recent years, China has ramped up the pressure.

VO: This kicked civilian defence groups into action.

Moving throughout the building, aiming at targets

A:

If anyone wanted to invade your home, it was normal to stand up and protect everything you cherish.

A – We fight for our lifestyle of freedom and democracy and for our way of life with the rule of law and human rights. If these things were lost, governed by China, we would be like animals in cages.

DAY 6

Running up the stairwell

VO: Civil defence groups like Taiwan Militia run drills - in preparation for possible invasion

CHARLES - The scenario just now simulated that there were five enemies lurking on the first floor of this building. We came in to eliminate them and clear the building to make it safe.

JANICE - What about these weapons? Are they real or fake?

Because we can't use live ammunition in Taiwan, the bullets used are BBs.

FOOTAGE

LIB 290621 RTV CHINA POLITICS ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE_SBS_ID_15218450

GFX

Number of military personnel in bullets

TOTAL ACTIVE FORCES

China: 2,035,000

Taiwan: 300,000

VO: These citizen warriors are no match for CHINA’s military might

GFX

TOTAL ACTIVE FORCES

China: 2,035,000

Taiwan: 300,000

ALT

VO: CHINA HAS OVER 2 MILLION ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONAL

TAIWAN NOT EVEN 200,000

BUT THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 1.6 MILLION CIVILLIAN WARRIORS

TAIWAN MILITIA

DAY 6

Students watching on...

VO: Hanney and Chiany are from civilian defense group - Taizhong Self Training

VO: They’ve come to see how others are getting prepared

MALE INTERVIEWEE

It’s really stunning and also a little bit scary because we’ve never faced this kind of situation before in our education.

FEMALE STUDENT

I've seen the battlefield environment, but mostly on film. But now it may suddenly go from the screen to our real life and most people are unprepared for it.

Car – travelling back to Taipei

VO: The majority of Taiwanese people aren’t ready to take up arms

VO: But a growing number are learning basic conflict survival skills

KUMA ACADEMY

DAY 1

Evacuation tactics

Carrying each other

JANICE PTC

It’s the end of the afternoon in bustling Taipei and most people might be thinking about wrapping up their workday. But there’s a room full of people here who are finding what to do if war breaks out.

UPSOT

Marco – Here. Did you notice that ... the weapon in this soldier’s hand is a stinger anti-aircraft missile...

VO: Here at Kuma Academy, they teach civilians about modern warfare.

VO: With most of these students unable to fire a weapon, the emphasis is on first aid and rescue.

UPSOT

Bleeding in left arm. Bleeding in the left arm. Where do we need to put it? We need to put it above the wound.

Interviewer – Niko, what’s brought you here today

Niko – I want to know more about the Taiwan Strait War, because Russia and Ukraine have been at war for a long time. I think the situation of Ukraine is very similar to that of Taiwan. I want to know more so I can protect myself and others in emergency.

If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?

Niko – Twenty-three.

Interviewer – For people your age, your friends, how worried are they about war?

Niko – My biggest worry is that they get injured and die or leave us forever.

JANICE– Do you think though … do you think preparing in a classroom though can really prepare you for war?

Niko – It will be hard. I can’t say that I will be protected 100% or never get injured, but at least I have made some preparations.

Kuma practising carrying people out of rooms cut with Taiwan militia grab

So we are going to fight for ourselves and our family. Some things you could only lose once. There’s no second chance.

A– Because if you didn't stand up and battle, you would lose everything.

END