Between June and August 1914, in what history remembers as the Taroko War, 3,000 indigenous warriors of the Truku people fought for three relentless months against a force of 20,000 Japanese troops. The Japanese were well-armed with modern artillery, machine guns and a meticulously prepared strategy. Yet the Truku, vastly outgunned and cut off from supplies, resisted with extraordinary resolve in the mountains of eastern Taiwan until they were overwhelmed by exhaustion and a lack of resources.
That story, more than a century old, still resonates today — especially as Taiwan faces the looming threat of an all-out Chinese invasion. While the scale and nature of modern warfare are vastly different, the underlying truth remains: The survival of a people depends not just on firepower, but on the will to resist.
If China launches a full-scale attack, it would encounter not an isolated tribe, but a modern, democratic society with strong civil will, military preparedness and international awareness. Taiwan’s terrain, urban environments and growing civil defense capacity make it unlikely to fall quickly. Like the Truku in 1914, Taiwan might be able to hold out — for three weeks, three months or more.
Why does that time matter?
Because history shows that early resistance buys strategic opportunity. It allows for global attention, potential international assistance and the mobilization of long-term defense.
The lesson of the Taroko War is clear — even in the face of overwhelming odds, the spirit of resistance can shape history. Back then, it was 3,000 warriors in the mountains. Today, it is 23 million citizens defending democracy in a nation that has become a symbol of freedom in Asia.
If war does come, let us remember that if Taiwan can hold for three months, Taiwan can survive, and in doing so, it might secure not only its own future, but the stability of the free world.
Tu Hsin-fu is an indigenous affairs commentator.
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