Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, is asking the government to explain its plans for civil defense. It comes after concerns that school children were asked to join the youth service corps.
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00:00Here at Taiwan's legislature, the government's big plan for civil defense is coming under
00:05fire. President Lai Ching-de recently launched the Whole of Society Defense Resilience Committee.
00:10It's designed to prepare the country for potential natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes,
00:16but also a potential attack from China, which claims Taiwan and has recently increased threats
00:21to take by force. The government here says the country must be prepared to defend itself.
00:26It has boosted defense spending, extended conscription, and rolled out civil defense
00:31programs. But the country's main opposition group, the Kuomintang or KMT, say the government's
00:36plan is going too far, militarizing society and instilling fear of war.
00:40Opposition legislators point to recent controversy over high school students being asked to volunteer
01:00for the Youth Service Corps. They say parents were concerned that their children could be
01:05sent to the front line. But the government said the Youth Service Corps has no military
01:10role. It's not unusual for opposition lawmakers like these to attack the ruling Democratic
01:18Progressive Party, particularly when it comes to China and defense. The Kuomintang believes
01:23in closer ties with Beijing and accuses the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of stoking
01:28tensions across the strait. What sort of relationship Taipei should have with Beijing and how to
01:34face the China threat splits society and politics here. Opposition lawmakers are now
01:40calling on the government to be clearer about what role it expects Taiwanese citizens to
01:46play in the event of war. Joseph Wu and Rick Lowatt in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.