Authoritarianism vs. Democracy - Taiwan’s Little Big Friend EP3
What do small nations like Taiwan and Lithuania do when facing an existential threat? Learn how civil defense plays a vital role in confronting the threat of an empire. This series has explored how Lithuania and Taiwan support each other economically, but what about preparing for the defense of a nation? Both countries live under the shadow of a larger neighbor and prepare in different ways to stand up when necessary. Lithuania has a robust government defense system in preparation for an invasion, but they also emphasize the need for a population that is ready to defend itself. According to a Lithuanian official, civil defense begins from birth, with the population developing the desire to defend their country. In Taiwan, the Kuma Academy also works to train Taiwanese citizens in practical methods of defense and survival in case of an invasion. Interviews with Taiwanese and Lithuanian students in Taiwan reveal a population that values its freedom. The stories of Lithuania and Taiwan, though different, bear remarkable similarities. Citizens and government officials clearly understand the importance of small countries joining together to form united fronts against larger nations; to what extent this helps remains to be seen. Although these nations prepare for the worst-case scenario, the future is unwritten, and hope remains. Taiwan’s Little Big Friend is a mini-documentary series exploring the diplomatic, economic, and social relationship between Taiwan and Lithuania. In 2021, Lithuania opened the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius, the first of its kind worldwide, which caused the Chinese government to retaliate economically, banning the import of Lithuanian goods to China. This three-part series documents the relationship between the two countries and how Lithuania became Taiwan’s little big friend. A series directed by Julien Oeuillet.
