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《TAIPEI TIMES》 Former soldier tours Taiwan for awareness

A boy, left, looks at itinerant former soldier Tsai Tsung-lin as he enters an elevator in Keelung on Monday. Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters

2023/08/26 03:00

By Ann Wang and Minh Nguyen / Reuters, KEELUNG

Dressed in camouflage and holding a plastic rifle, Tsai Tsung-lin （蔡宗霖） has been tramping around Taiwan on foot for more than a month with one message to Taiwanese: Be prepared for war.

The 22-year-old former soldier, discharged from the army’s Airborne Special Operations Forces last month, hopes his journey can help increase civil defense awareness amid tensions with China.

Last week, China again conducted drills near Taiwan, this time in protest against Vice President William Lai’s （賴清德） brief transits in the US on the way to and from Paraguay.

“We know that the situation won’t be good if this [constant threats from China] continues. I want people to be prepared, prepare for war with a goal,” Tsai said in Keelung, after walking more than 900km in the country.

“Everyone should know who the enemy is,” he added.

Tsai carries a large Taiwan flag sticking on his backpack and a yellow sign reading: “Going around the island raising people’s awareness to oppose the enemy.”

Tsai, whose journey has been widely followed on social media, said he has been warmly welcomed wherever he goes, with people offering him free food and drink and occasionally a debate on tensions with China.

“He is a role model for young people in the country,” a vendor surnamed Huang （黃） said after offering Tsai a cold dessert to beat the scorching heat. “I think he is great.”

Tsai said that he has no idea how long he would stay on the road, but that he would not stop until his message is delivered all across Taiwan.

“This is not a holiday, this is self-torture,” he said. “It is very tough.”

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES