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Ukrainian students looking for a new life in Taiwan see parallels in Russia and China

#Ukrainian #students #life #Taiwan #parallels #Russia #China

When Ukrainian student Anna Fursyk first moved into her dorm in Taiwan, the roar of passing military jets made her wince and reminded her of the war she was fleeing.

She is among eight young Ukrainians who recently arrived in central Taichung to study on full scholarships, drawn to Taiwan’s democracy and a sense of kinship enhanced by living under the constant threat of invasion from a much larger one aggressive neighbors arises.

The planes that frightened Fursyk were from a nearby air force base that uses jets more frequently to counter the growing number of Chinese warplane incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.

“In the beginning I was scared because I thought a war was going to start. The war in Ukraine shaped my soul,” said the 20-year-old.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine, he gave shape to the darkest fears of many Taiwanese – that China will honor its promise to annex the island, which it considers part of its territory to be conquered one day, if necessary with violence.

A senior Chinese official recently warned Beijing “will not hesitate to start a war” if the island declares independence.

Roman Koval, 28, a former flight attendant from Ukraine’s eastern Lugansk region, said he chose Taiwan in part because of what he called “similar threats” it shared with his home country.

He urged Taiwan to learn from Ukraine’s experience and “always be ready and prepared.”

“All this time Ukrainians thought … USA will come to save us, Europe will come to save us. But it turned out that no one will come to save us,” he said.

“We are the ones who will protect and we are the ones who will fight.”

– “Freedom and Democracy” –

In Taiwan, there was a wave of public support for Ukraine.

A public fundraiser raised nearly $33 million in just four weeks, with President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior officials each donating a month’s salary to the cause.

The student scholarships were made possible by a pledge of around 1.38 million US dollars to the university.

Tsai was keen to draw parallels between Taiwan’s plight and Ukraine.

A picture she posted of Taiwanese orchids spray-painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag went viral on social media, along with the accompanying message: “I hope freedom and democracy can continue to flourish in our two countries.”

Fursyk, who fled the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, said she decided to move to Taiwan precisely because she wanted to live in a “democratic and free” environment while studying to become a Chinese teacher.

“The reason I didn’t choose China is because of communism, which would make my life less comfortable,” she told AFP in fluent Mandarin.

– ‘Fight on’ –

Her compatriot, 21-year-old Karyna Myshnova, said Ukraine needs the world’s attention and support “to help us continue the fight.”

“Just putting Ukrainian flags on your house, on your Instagram. Just showing that you get it” would help, she said.

Alina Kuprii, 20, said she believes Taiwan has an advantage over Ukraine when it comes to foreign intervention because of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry.

Taiwanese chip foundries produce some of the most advanced chips in the world, a component critical to the global tech industry.

“It would be really dangerous if China invaded Taiwan – it would really affect world trade, not like Ukraine,” she said.

“And I hope that China will not do that.”

Kuprii, a Global MBA student, hopes to eventually return home to start a career, using what she learns in Taiwan to foster business ties between the two.

But she said she was tormented by thoughts of her parents, who chose to stay in Ukraine because “they care too much about their home”.

Kuprii’s application to the university was processed as urgent because the city she hails from – Kryvyi Rig, the same as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – has recently been hit harder.

“I miss Ukraine so much, I’m so homesick,” she said. “I think people should appreciate every moment of life. Be thankful for every day.”

All students remained hopeful that Ukraine would triumph in the end.

“I think it will take time but I know we will definitely win,” said Fursyk.

“We defend our country, our independence, our freedom and our decision not to be part of Russia – as well as the principles of democracy.”

Social Tags:
#Ukrainian #students #life #Taiwan #parallels #Russia #China

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