TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Participants in a nine-day “Stand Up for Taiwan” relay march promoting civil defense reached Chiayi on Monday (Dec. 2).

The NGO Kuma Academy organized the event, which began in Kaohsiung on Saturday, Liberty Times reported. Fifty-two teams will walk 380 kilometers, passing through 13 counties and cities, to rally Taiwanese citizens around protecting the nation.

Hou Jun-yan (侯俊彥), a participant who walked from Tainan to Chiayi, said, "Taiwanese must have ambition, courage, and determination. Taiwan will continue to shine on the international stage."

The march will conclude at Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei next Sunday.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Puma Shen (沈伯洋) co-founded Kuma Academy in 2021 to prepare civilians for civil defense and disaster response. “We believe that war impacts everyone. Societal resilience requires citizens to defend themselves and contribute their skills,” its website states.

In September, the academy held emergency drills in Taipei to train participants on responding to large-scale disasters. While earlier drills relied on team leaders for guidance, the latest training required participants to overcome challenges independently.

In August, Kuma Academy opened a base in Changhua’s Erlin Township to educate citizens on emergency response and combat preparedness in the event of a cross-strait conflict.