CNN - In Taiwan, they try not to worry over war games

In Taiwan, they try not to worry over war games

March 17, 1996
Web posted at: 10:25 p.m. EST (1525 GMT)

From Correspondent Tom Mintier

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Just looking at the headlines in Sunday's newspapers was enough to make anyone in Taiwan nervous. "Everyone moved for fear of the bomb," cries one headline. "Residents cry leaving hometown," says another.

Two small islands with 300 residents have been evacuated, but on the streets of Taipei there was no sense of tension over China's military maneuvers in the Strait of Taiwan. People were doing what they normally do on a Sunday.

For the past 10 days, the people of Taiwan have been bombarded with stories in the newspaper and shows on television with every minute detail of the Chinese military exercises. One might expect them to be extremely nervous at a time like this, but that's not necessarily so.

At Taipei's weekend flower market, shoppers were not looking for bomb shelter supplies or stocking up on rice. They were buying plants and flower boxes. They were smiling and having a good time. There was no bunker mentality here.

Landscaper Luo Yu-Lin was reading about the Chinese threat in his newspaper but said he feels there is nothing to worry about.

"Middle class people," he said, "are not concerned about this thing. What can we do? But people in high level, in the government, maybe they worry."

"Middle class people are not concerned about this thing. What can we do? But people in high level, in the government, maybe they worry."

-- Landscaper Luo Yu-Lin

No one is sure what will happen with China, and most of the people interviewed on the streets of Taipei Sunday were not worried.

"Mainland China just wants to threaten us, " said one man. "They don't want war."

"The whole situation doesn't worry me," said one woman. "I think it's the process of developing democracy."

"We don't want American military power getting involved in Taiwan's problems. "

One man was worried, not about China but about the United States sending warships to Taiwan.

"We don't want American military power getting involved in Taiwan's problems," he said.

But most people at the flower market were more concerned over whether their orchids would bloom or which goldfish would look good in the aquarium at home.

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In Taiwan, they try not to worry over war games

"Middle class people are not concerned about this thing. What can we do? But people in high level, in the government, maybe they worry."

"We don't want American military power getting involved in Taiwan's problems. "

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