The Russo-Ukrainian war has been ongoing for over 2 years. Today (May 22), former Ukrainian parliament member Hanna Hopko stated that Taiwan should learn from Ukraine’s lessons and experiences. She observed that there are still some people in Taiwan who do not see the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a threat or enemy. It is important to teach the public the awareness of distinguishing between friend and foe and educate the next generation about the history of authoritarian states invading democratic countries.
The Black Bear Civil Defense Education Association held the “Global Civil Defense Leaders Forum: Russo-Ukrainian War, Regional Security, and Impact on Taiwan” at the UTAC Taipei Conference Center today. Domestic and international civil defense leaders and experts gathered to exchange and share experiences.
During the forum, co-founder of the “Momentum” Charity Foundation in Ukraine, Kateryna Muzlova, and former Ukrainian parliament member Hanna Hopko were invited to dialogue with Taiwanese media. Regarding the importance of civil defense education, Muzlova mentioned that back when she was a high school student, she learned relevant courses at school. Male students were taught how to use firearms, and female students learned how to dress wounds. At that time, she didn’t find the courses very important, but everything changed when the Russo-Ukrainian War broke out in 2022.
When asked what kind of knowledge she wished she had learned before the war, Muzlova said “a lot,” including human rights education, history, and developing a sense of identity towards Ukraine. During her schooling, the Ukrainian government was pro-Russian, so textbooks leaned towards supporting the Russian stance. She emphasized the importance of both male and female students learning skills like dressing wounds and operating firearms, especially regarding wound dressing, which was taught by the school nurse back then. She hoped for guidance from professionals in these fields.
Hopko emphasized that Taiwanese people should learn from Ukraine’s experiences. Before the outbreak of the war, some Ukrainians still believed that Russia would not launch an attack. Similarly, she observed that there are some people in Taiwan who do not see the CCP as a threat or enemy. Therefore, it is crucial to educate the public on the importance of understanding friend and foe and inform them that the CCP is funding Russia in its war efforts. Through education, the next generation should be made aware of and remember the history of authoritarian states invading democratic countries.
Translated from Central News Agency