Fluffy sharks and Chinese missiles: Life in Taiwan

Monday was Father’s Day - more stressful for some, and more important for many, than a volley of Chinese missiles. 

Monday was Father’s Day - more stressful for some, and more important for many, than a volley of Chinese missiles. 

China had just shot a ballistic missile over Taipei, but Charlie Kuo had other things on his mind. 

The accounting grad, 23, was off to IKEA. He wanted to buy a fluffy shark and some Scandi furnishings for his new apartment. 

Right now, Taiwan is in the news all around the world. Of course it is. Last week, China blasted 11 missiles over and near Taiwan -- the home of 23 million people, who the Communist Party in Beijing says belongs to them.

Most people in Taiwan, a liberal democracy like Australia, have other ideas. 

They also seem to be incredibly relaxed about Beijing’s missiles, war planes and war ships, which have been paraded around Taiwan in China’s biggest ever display of its shiny, scary, massive military.

If this was happening around Australia, people would be freaking out. But for people in Taiwan, there’s nothing new about China threatening war.

More vision from day three of the “4th Taiwan Strait Crisis”. pic.twitter.com/DIVub4u5Ly

— Will Glasgow (@wmdglasgow) August 6, 2022

And there’s also a lot else going on. People have been catching up with friends, going to work or enjoying school holidays. Monday was Father’s Day -- more stressful for some, and more important for many, than a volley of Chinese missiles. 

Charlie was one person here in Taiwan with bigger things to worry about than China’s threats of war. He had a job interview at a big accounting firm.

“I think the job interview was more important,” he told The Oz, near the soft serve ice cream shop at IKEA in Taipei’s Songshan District. 

Charlie Kuo, at the IKEA store in Taipei's Songshan District. Picture: Rosaline Walters

And fair enough. What could he do about Beijing's tantrum? And this was his first job out of uni. That's a big deal.

The Communist Party is always getting angry with Taiwan. Beijing was furious when Taiwan held its first presidential election in 1996. To express their anger, Beijing blasted missiles at the island -- although not as many and not as sophisticated as this time. 

This latest burst was launched after a visit by Nancy Pelosi, the 82-year-old speaker of US Congress. Beijing said her trip was part of an American plot to take Taiwan from China. (Read more about the 24 hour trip that risked war here.)

Speaker of the U.S. House Of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan

Most people in Taiwan don’t think their country is China’s to take, but China won’t take no for an answer.

Charlie was happy at first about Pelosi’s visit. She’s one of the most senior politicians in America, so her coming to Taiwan seemed to be great news. 

But China’s anger -- those missiles and a bunch of trade strikes on Taiwanese businesses -- made Charlie wonder if it was worth it. 

“I would say, she could come after I get a job … Sorry, a little bit selfish!” he says, laughing.

What happens next is unclear, but there is some good news. Charlie got the job.

“They called me and said, we will give you the offer,” he tells The Oz.

So, yes, there have been missiles over Taiwan -- but there are still plenty of reasons to buy a celebratory fluffy shark toy in Taipei. And why not a side of soft serve?

After all that queuing, you've earned it.