Photo/Illutration People march in the streets of Taipei on March 13 to show support for Ukraine. (Koichiro Ishida)

TAIPEI--Worrying that it could be their turn next, people here marched in the streets on March 13 to show support for Ukraine while comparing their plight as China ramps up its military pressure.

Some 1,000 participants, the largest number since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, condemned Russia and called for an end to the conflict.

The event was organized by Ukrainian residents in Taiwan as well as local high school students and people in their 20s.

Along with members from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), legislators and senior members from opposition parties also took part.

“Ukraine, Hong Kong and Taiwan are all under attack by authoritarianism,” DPP legislator Fan Yun told a rally held ahead of the event. “We need to work together.”

In addition to Taiwanese and Ukrainians, Chinese and Russian residents in Taiwan also criticized Russia during their speeches at the rally, comparing the country’s actions to the pressure being applied to the island by China.

“Today’s Russia is tomorrow’s China,” they said.

Many participants were young people, including a freshman at the National Chengchi University in the island who took part in the event with nine other fellow students.

“The attack on Ukraine by Russia, the authoritarian country, is not someone else’s problem for us as Taiwan is adjacent to China,” said the 19-year-old freshman. “We want to tell the world that we protest war and call for democracy by taking to the streets.”

Taiwan joined the United States, European countries and other nations in imposing sanctions on Russia. Taipei also sent money and relief supplies, including medicines, to help support Ukrainians. 

Russia listed Taiwan as one of the 48 countries and regions that it deems as "unfriendly" toward it following its invasion of Ukraine.

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