Ep 291 | 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.

Related Links:

https://talkingtaiwan.com/an-emergency-preparedness-guide-for-expats-in-taiwan-our-discussion-with-survivalist-author-john-groot-ep-291/

John has made the book is available for free on his website and you 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.

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 and 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 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:

https://talkingtaiwan.com/an-emergency-preparedness-guide-for-expats-in-taiwan-our-discussion-with-survivalist-author-john-groot-ep-291/