Talking Taiwan: An Emergency Preparedness Guide for ExPats in Taiwan: Our Discussion with Author John Groot
Earlier this summer, in June, I spoke with John Groot, the author of “An Emergency Preparedness Guide for Expats in Taiwan.”
John has made the book available for free on his website and you can download a copy of it by >> clicking here<<: https://thecultureshack.blog/2023/12/04/emergency-preparedness-guide-for-expats-in-taiwan/
Taiwan is of course no stranger to natural disasters since it often experiences earthquakes and typhoons. What’s raised eyebrows about John’s book is that it has a section that specifically addresses what to do in case of a military attack by China.
LISTEN to Episode 291: An Emergency Preparedness Guide for ExPats in Taiwan: Our Discussion with Author John Groot HERE
Since 2020 China has upped its grey zone tactics by sending planes into Taiwan’s ADIZ on a daily basis. Concerns about civil defense preparedness in Taiwan peaked in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, and then there was the PLA’s military actions in August of 2022 in response to Nancy Pelosi (the U.S. House Speaker at the time) visiting Taiwan.
John and I talked about the research involved in writing the guide, how people can be prepared in case of an emergency or disaster and why he felt it was necessary to include a section in the guide to address dealing with a possible invasion of Taiwan by China.
John Groot is a long-time Canadian expat in Taiwan. He is an independent writer-researcher and has done one book and many articles about Taiwan's history, culture, and geography. Recently he has focused more on the security situation with regards to Chinese aggression toward Taiwan. One of his major recent projects was a 68 page PDF e-book called "Resilience Roadmap: An Emergency Preparedness Guide for Expats in Taiwan."
Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:
John’s background and upbringing
How John got interested in civil defense and emergency preparedness
How Russia’s invasion in Ukraine in 2022 heightened interested in civil defense in Taiwan
How John learned about the NGO Open Knowledge aka OK Taiwan
Documentary filmmaker Tobie Openshaw
The PLA’s military actions in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022
The civil defense handbook that was issued by Taiwan’s government and how it showed the difference between uniforms of Taiwan’s military and China’s PLA
How many expats there are in Taiwan, and the different types of expats
Issues with the path for expats to apply for nationality in Taiwan
The research John did for the book
Tobie Openshaw’s experience with the 921 Earthquake in Taiwan
Sweden’s defense system
Israel’s military service system
How France supports its citizens abroad
How long it took John to write the book
How the book is organized
The earthquake in Taiwan that caused a crane to fall from Taipei 101
John’s experience with natural disasters in Taiwan
The acronyms in the book
The origin of the term “bug out”
How people can be prepared for emergencies or disasters
Having a communication plan in case of emergency or disaster
What students in Taiwan learn about dealing with natural disasters and emergencies
Liability issues in Taiwan when it comes to medically intervening to help someone
Why John felt that the book should address what to do in case of threat of war i.e. an attack on Taiwan by China
Meetings amongst the American communities in Taipei after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022
The response John’s received to the book
Whether or not it is advisable to go to a government evacuation center
How in times of need it’s important to consider the needs of others
How families can prepare their children for dealing with disasters
How Taiwan and the U.S. do not want war with China
What John would like people to take away from the book
How John hopes that people can be prepared for emergencies or disasters
Related Links:
Download John Groot’s Resilience Roadmap: An Emergency Preparedness Guide for Expats in Taiwan here: https://thecultureshack.blog/2023/12/04/emergency-preparedness-guide-for-expats-in-taiwan/
Emergency Preparedness Guide for Foreigners in Taiwan Released: https://dominotheory.com/emergency-preparedness-guide-for-foreigners-in-taiwan-released/
Canadian author launches civil defense e-book for expats in Taiwan: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5052199
Apartheid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid
Open Knowledge (OK) Taiwan: https://okfn.org/en/taiwan/
Updated defense handbook released: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/06/14/2003801506
People’s Liberation Army (PLA): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Liberation_Army
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): https://www.fema.gov/
Prepper: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prepper
Yellowstone super volcano: https://www.yellowstone.org/yellowstone-supervolcano-revealed/
Tobie Openshaw: https://topenshaw.academia.edu/
921 Earthquake in Taiwan aka Jiji Earthquake (September 21, 1999): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Jiji_earthquake
Quake kills five as it rattles the nation (Taipei Times article about the earthquake in Taiwan that caused a crane to fall from Taipei 101): https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/04/01/0000130035
Korean War: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War
Vietnam War: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
Leave the World Behind (film): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leave_the_World_Behind_(film)
Two-way radio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-way_radio
Ham radio: https://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio/
Satellite phone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_phone
AED (automated external defibrillator): https://www.heart.org/-/media/files/health-topics/answers-by-heart/what-is-an-aed.pdf
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/aed/using-an-aed/what-is-aed
Taiwan: Nancy Pelosi meets President Tsai to Beijing’s fury: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62398029
Since the Pelosi Visit, China Has Created a New Normal in the Taiwan Strait: https://thediplomat.com/2023/08/since-the-pelosi-visit-china-has-created-a-new-normal-in-the-taiwan-strait/
2022 visit by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_visit_by_Nancy_Pelosi_to_Taiwan
President Lai Ching-te: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lai_Ching-te
Eric Chang on China’s Breach of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone: Threat or Bluff? (Episode 127): https://talkingtaiwan.com/eric-chang-on-chinas-breach-of-taiwans-air-defense-identification-zone-threat-or-bluff-ep-127/
Taiwan’s Civil Defense Preparedness: T.H. Schee on How to Prepare for the Threat of an Attack (Episode 178): https://talkingtaiwan.com/taiwans-civil-defense-preparedness-t-h-schee-on-how-to-prepare-for-the-threat-of-an-attack-ep-178/
Dr. Bonny Ling Discusses the Challenges Taiwan Faces Dealing with Migrant Workers (Episode 215): https://talkingtaiwan.com/dr-bonny-ling-discusses-the-challenges-taiwan-faces-dealing-with-migrant-workers-ep-215/
J.W. Henley Author of “Migrante” Reveals the Plight of Migrant Workers in Taiwan Ep (Episode 216): https://talkingtaiwan.com/j-w-henley-author-of-migrante-reveals-the-plight-of-migrant-workers-in-taiwan-ep-216/
Robert Tsao, Founder of UMC Pledges to Donate USD 100 Million to Taiwan’s Military Cause (Episode 229): https://talkingtaiwan.com/robert-tsao-founder-of-umc-pledges-to-donate-usd-100-million-to-taiwans-military-cause-ep-229/
T.H. Schee: On Taiwan’s Civil Defense Preparedness One Year Later After the War in Ukraine (Episode 232): https://talkingtaiwan.com/th-schee-on-taiwans-civil-defense-preparedness-one-year-later-after-the-war-in-ukraine-ep-232/
LISTEN to Episode 291: An Emergency Preparedness Guide for ExPats in Taiwan: Our Discussion with Author John Groot HERE
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