TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Wall Street Journal article published on Sunday shared what Taiwanese are putting in their “go-bags” in case of a disaster or a conflict.
The Taiwanese government has been urging citizens to prepare a basic survival kit. Its latest civil defense handbook, issued last month, includes a go-bag checklist that features items such as healthcare supplies, protective clothing, and valuables, as well as specific lists for babies, the elderly, and pets.
WSJ asked multiple people about what they have in their bags and why they selected them. Below are three of the interviewees:
Yuki Huang, a 38-year-old mother of two, said her family is part of a home-schooling group that places great importance on nature excursions as part of its curriculum.
A civil defense course two years ago helped Huang perfect dual preparation for an outdoor trip and an emergency. In her bag, she has an emergency blanket for warmth and a LifeStraw, which filters water.
Huang said she has discussed with her children how to respond to different situations, including when food and water run out, and where to go during an earthquake.
Yen Chin-chih, 60, said she began preparing for disasters more than 25 years ago after the 1999 Jiji earthquake in Taichung that left 2,415 people dead. Yen has two months of supplies at home, including water bottles, canned food, radios, solar panels, and radiation detectors. Her kit also has gloves, goggles, a tourniquet, and medicine.
She has invested approximately US$10,000 (NT$305,842) in emergency supplies so far. Yen records expiration dates, expenses, and other information with a spreadsheet. She also carries a small bag for a few supplies in case she is caught off guard while outside.
Yen told WSJ that she feared a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would occur after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. “How could I not be nervous?” she said.
She and her 90-year-old mother, Wu Mei-hua, who lives with her, would be safest at home, Yen said. Her mother suffers from kidney disease and needs mobility assistance.
“I would never just grab a bag and run out,” Yen said. “There’s no way I could run while carrying my mother.”
Kyle Hu, a 33-year-old father of two, is a former sergeant in Taiwan’s special forces who started a civil-defense training business in 2022. “Nobody likes war and no one wants it to happen, but we still have to be ready,” he said.
His go-bag items include a rain jacket, water and food bars, camouflage, a gas mask, helmet, and body armor. Altogether, they cost him nearly US$4,000.
Hu intentionally avoids Chinese-made products. “When I’m in a high-risk situation, I need gear I can trust 100%,” he said.
Hu said that Taiwan’s preparations for a Chinese invasion “will never be enough,” he said. However, “Even if it’s just 1%, we still need to be ready.”
