Lung Yingtai: “A Look Inside: Taiwanese in a Time of Cross-Strait Crisis”

Taiwan faces an existential threat as cross-strait tensions escalate, transforming the island into a geopolitical flashpoint between China and the United States. Renowned writer and former cultural minister Lung Yingtai argues that while urban elites and military strategists focus on "war games" and deterrence, the perspectives of rural farmers and fishermen reveal a more nuanced reality. These communities emphasize survival, patience, and the human cost of conflict, highlighting a dangerous lack of "peace games" designed to foster stability. Lung contends that the 23 million people in Taiwan are not mere pawns on a chessboard but vibrant individuals deserving of peace. She urges civilians on both sides of the strait to build grassroots connections, transcending political propaganda to foster mutual understanding and prevent the catastrophic human consequences of war, such as the grim necessity for mass medical supplies and body bags.