Countries across the world are feeling the impact of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as stock markets tumble and oil prices spike. But Taiwan is feeling a particular chill, amid concerns that it eventually could face a similar fate at the hands of China.
President Tsai Ing-wen last Wednesday ordered the armed forces and security personnel to step up surveillance and strengthen defences of the self-governed island republic. She called on her government to remain on high alert against "cognitive warfare" and disinformation efforts by foreign powers intent on using tensions in Ukraine to stoke panic and instability in Taiwan.
While she condemned Russia for "encroaching on Ukraine's sovereignty", Ms Tsai also stressed that Taiwan was fundamentally different from Ukraine in geopolitical, economic and geographical terms. But one thing she can't deny is that Taiwan, like Ukraine, has long lived in the shadow of a large and overbearing neighbour.
