Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 12:00PM – 1:30PM (ET)
In-person and Webcast
Event Description:
The Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) is pleased to invite you to a panel discussion titled “Taiwan’s Initiatives for Civil Defense amid an Increasing Threat Environment.”
Recent years have seen a steady increase in Chinese military pressure directed against Taiwan, with PRC ships and aircraft now routinely operating in the sea and airspace around Taiwan, and regularly conducting major military exercises intended to intimidate the island’s government and people. Amidst this increasingly tense threat environment, both Taiwan’s government and civil society groups have been undertaking increased efforts to mobilize civilian resources to bolster Taiwan’s overall defense preparedness. In 2024, the administration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te created the “Whole of Society Defense Resilience Committee,” intended to foster improved coordination between government agencies and civil society groups. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on civil defense have also become more active and prominent in Taiwan, offering training in skill sets such as logistics and emergency first aid.
For a conversation about the developing state of Taiwan’s civil defense initiatives, GTI will host three expert speakers to share their perspectives. Dr. Michael Hunzeker, a former Marine Corps officer and professor of political science at George Mason University, will discuss the role of civil defense within Taiwan’s broader defense concerns. Mr. Aaron Huang, the director of international affairs for the Taiwan-based civil defense NGO Kuma Academy, will discuss the role of his organization in promoting civil defense training in Taiwan society. Finally, Joshua Brandon of the US-based NGO Spirit of America will discuss the role of his organization in supporting training for first responders and other critical personnel in Taiwan.
The event will be held at the GTI office located at 1836 Jefferson Place NW in Washington DC (approximately one block from the Dupont Circle Metro). Doors will open at 11:30 AM, and the event will begin at 12:00 PM. If you plan on attending in-person, please RSVP by September 8, as seating is limited. A light lunch will be provided. Please direct questions or concerns to Senior Programs Manager Adrienne Wu at awu@globaltaiwan.org.
**Media: Please contact Yuchen Lee at ylee@globaltaiwan.org if you would like to bring additional crew members or equipment, so that we can be sure to accommodate you.
The Panelists:
Aaron Huang is the director of international affairs for Kuma Academy (黑熊學院), a Taiwan-based civil defense NGO dedicated to the motto “Si vis pacem, para bellum” (“If you want peace, prepare for war”). Kuma Academy seeks to build self-defense capability in Taiwan’s society, providing “knowledge and skills to help people sustain themselves and recognize enemy disinformation operations in both peace and wartime situations.” In pursuit of this mission, Kuma Academy offers to the public a variety of training courses, including classes on the nature of modern warfare, information warfare, first aid, and evacuation planning for emergency situations.
Michael Hunzeker is an associate professor at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, the associate director of the Schar School’s Center for Security Policy Studies, and a senior nonresident fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. His work on deterrence, military adaptation, and war termination has appeared in Security Studies, the Journal of Strategic Studies, PS: Politics and Political Science, Parameters, Defense One, Foreign Policy, War on the Rocks and the RUSI Journal. Dr. Hunzeker is also the author of Dying to Learn: Wartime Lessons from the Western Front, with Cornell University Press. Dr. Hunzeker served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2000–06 and holds an AB from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a PhD, MPA, and AM from Princeton University.
Joshua Brandon has served since 2020 as the regional director for Spirit of America’s Indo-Pacific program, managing a diverse portfolio of venture-style assistance projects throughout Asia, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Mongolia, India, Laos, Vietnam, Palau, and Myanmar. Since 2021, He has led the organization’s “Whole of Society” campaign in Taiwan, working closely with civil society and government partners to pilot and scale programs in training and mobilizing civilian volunteers, improving government crisis response, and building digital resiliency and regional connectivity. Prior to Spirit of America, he served as a US Army infantry officer, during which time he was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars with valor devices. Mr. Brandon was also an organizer at the Sierra Club, where he worked on veteran mental health and conservation issues. He attended The Citadel where he earned a bachelor’s in history, as well as a master’s degree in international affairs and an MBA from the University of Washington.
The Moderator:
John Dotson is the director of the Global Taiwan Institute. He has served previously as a US Navy officer, as a staff member of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, and as an editor of the Jamestown Foundation’s publication China Brief. John has performed extensive writing and research on a range of political and national security issues related to US policy in East Asia, to include Chinese propaganda and united front work, elite politics within the Chinese Communist Party, military-civil fusion efforts within the People’s Liberation Army, and Taiwan defense policy. He is a proficient Mandarin linguist, who has performed extensive original research in indigenous Chinese language sources. John holds an M.A. in National Security Studies (with “highest distinction”) from the US Naval War College, and a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins-SAIS.