‘It feels like the end of the world’: Taiwan civilians practise for war as Ukraine revives China fears

A community group trains in first aid and combat fitness drills at Da’an Park in Taipei. People in Taiwan have grown increasingly keen for civilian defence training in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Photograph: Helen Davidson/The Guardian

On a muggy night in a Taipei park, its concrete pavilion lit by the glow from nearby lampposts, a dozen people spread yoga mats and plastic bags on the floor.

The atmosphere is convivial and relaxed as they warm up, taking turns to lead the group through exercises copied from US army basic training videos online. They practise drills, dragging each other as injured deadweights, out of the way of a fictional harm.