Retired lecturer Donald Ho was out for his morning stroll in a busy downtown park Sunday, anxious about what Chinese jets and ships holding war games around Taiwan meant for freedom in the self-ruled island.
"I am a little worried, I would be lying to you if I say that I am not," the 73-year-old told AFP in Taipei.
Beijing launched three days of military drills on Saturday dubbed"Joint Sword" to rehearse the encirclement of the island after a meeting between Taiwan's president and the US House Speaker. "Go to the city, everybody is eating, dancing, laughing, everything," said retired businessman Jasper Lee, 75.Taiwanese of all ages were keen to shake off the Chinese threat while reiterating that being free was paramount.
"I don't like a government that is like a prison. I don't like a government that wants to control our people. I like a government that is free," he said.
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