More in Taiwan seek gun training as Ukraine war drives home China threat

More in Taiwan seek gun training as Ukraine war drives home China threat

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From tour guides to tattoo artists, some in Taiwan are taking shooting lessons for the first time in their lives as Russia's invasion of Ukraine ratchets up anxiety at the prospect of giant neighbour China making a similar move on the democratic island.

China's growing military pressure on the island it claims as its own, combined with the conflict in Ukraine, has spurred debate about how to boost defences in Taiwan, which is weighing whether to extend compulsory military service.

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
A trainee pretends to be injured while others perform first aid on him.

Since the war in Ukraine started three months ago, bookings have nearly quadrupled for lessons in how to shoot airsoft guns, or low-power devices designed to shoot non-metallic projectiles, said an official of a combat skills training company in Taiwan.

"More and more people are coming to take part," said Max Chiang, chief executive of Polar Light, which is based in a suburb of the capital, Taipei.

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
A trainer checks if a female trainee's airsoft handgun is placed correctly in the holster.

Some of those who came to the shooting range this year had not handled guns before, he said, adding that numbers had "tripled or quadrupled" since the start of the Ukraine conflict, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

Some in Taiwan fear that China, which has never ruled out using force to bring the island under its control, may ramp up the pressure, taking advantage of a West distracted by efforts to support and equip Ukraine in its response to Moscow.

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
A trainee aims his airsoft gun during a break.

Taiwan has raised its alert level but has reported no unusual military movements by Beijing.

Those preparing against a threat from China include Su Chun, a 39-year-old tattoo artist who was determined to learn how to use air guns.

"I wanted to learn some combat skills, including those that are not just limited to using a gun. Maybe skills to be able to react to any kind of situation," he said.

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
Tattoo artist, Su Chun, 39, tattoos a customer at his studio.

But gun training would be useful if the government called up reservists like himself to repulse a Chinese invasion, Su added.

"Most people don't want to go to war, I also don't want to go to war, but in the unfortunate event of this really happening, I will be mentally prepared."

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
Personal trainer, Chris Chen, poses with an airsoft gun.

Use of airsoft guns, popular for military simulation, is taught as a competition sport in Taiwan, which tightly controls gun ownership, but many of the movements and tactics involved resemble combat skills, from shooting posture to aiming.

The devices use compressed air to carry less dangerous projectiles, such as small plastic balls, to their targets.

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
Trainees listen to their trainer on what to be alert for when entering a building with airsoft guns.

At the Taipei shooting range one Sunday afternoon, dozens of students picked up air guns for the first time as trainers explained safety guidelines and basic details.

There was an "urgent" need to learn more about defensive weapons after the war in Ukraine, said tour guide Chang Yu, who attended the entry-level course with his wife.

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
Trainees work on a simulated hostage rescue mission.

"The Ukraine-Russia war has made the threat from across the Strait real," said the 34-year-old clad in bullet belt and goggles, referring to the waterway between Taiwan and China.

"It made us think how we should prepare ourselves if that happens in Taiwan."

The couple had assembled protective gear at home, from pepper spray to an alarm system for intruders, he added.

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
A trainee practices entering a building with his airsoft gun.

Besides the gun training, some politicians in Taiwan have urged the public to start thinking about survival plans for a time when most cities are without electricity and water supplies for days.

Lin Ping-yu of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, who is running for a council seat, said the Ukraine war had prompted him to prepare survival kits for his family, complete with emergency food supplies and batteries, in case of the worst.

. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang
Lin Ping-yu, 38, displays one of his 12 airsoft guns.

"Think about how you can help yourself and others survive," added Liu, the author of a book about the military threat from China.

"We are facing enormous risks. Risks of losing freedom and democracy, of losing everything in our daily life."

(Photo Editing Kezia Levitas; Additional reporting Yimou Lee; Text Editing Clarence

Fernandez; Layout Marta Montana)

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Slideshow

Trainees prepare to enter a building with their airsoft guns.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Trainees prepare to enter a building with their airsoft guns.

Su, holds an airsoft gun.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Su, holds an airsoft gun.

A female trainee checks her target.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

A female trainee checks her target.

Trainees work on a hostage rescue simulation.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Trainees work on a hostage rescue simulation.

A female trainee aims her airsoft handgun.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

A female trainee aims her airsoft handgun.

Trainees practice target shooting.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Trainees practice target shooting.

Trainees prepare to enter a building with their airsoft guns.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Trainees prepare to enter a building with their airsoft guns.

Personal trainer, Chris Chen, and other trainees practice carrying an injured person.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Personal trainer, Chris Chen, and other trainees practice carrying an injured person.

Tech journalist, Alan Chen, poses for a photograph during a break.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Tech journalist, Alan Chen, poses for a photograph during a break.

Trainees practice putting tourniquets on each others legs.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Trainees practice putting tourniquets on each others legs.

Trainees line up to practice target shooting.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Trainees line up to practice target shooting.

Lin discusses airsoft guns with Max Chiang, chief executive of Polar Light.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Lin discusses airsoft guns with Max Chiang, chief executive of Polar Light.

Lin poses with one of the posters for his campaign.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Lin poses with one of the posters for his campaign.

Lin chats with a colleague after attending prayer at a temple in his constituency.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Lin chats with a colleague after attending prayer at a temple in his constituency.

Patches depicting Taiwan's flag and a symbol known as Saint Javelin of the Virgin Mary holding an antitank weapon and Ukraine's coat of arms, are pictured on one of Lin’s bags.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Patches depicting Taiwan's flag and a symbol known as Saint Javelin of the Virgin Mary holding an antitank weapon and Ukraine's coat of arms, are pictured on one of Lin’s bags.

Lin attends a temple prayer in his constituency.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Lin attends a temple prayer in his constituency.

A trainee puts on his helmet.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

A trainee puts on his helmet.

"Taiwan spirit, world Number 1" is seen written on the flag of Taiwan on the backpack of a trainee.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

"Taiwan spirit, world Number 1" is seen written on the flag of Taiwan on the backpack of a trainee.

Trainees practice target shooting with their airsoft guns.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Trainees practice target shooting with their airsoft guns.

Personal trainer, Chris Chen, prepares his airsoft gun.
. New Taipei City, Taiwan. Reuters/Ann Wang

Personal trainer, Chris Chen, prepares his airsoft gun.