Facing China, one Taiwan Coast Guard officer draws strength from the gods

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https://www.reuters.com/world/china/facing-china-one-taiwan-coast-guard-officer-draws-strength-gods-2026-06-29/

cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/66995083

When Yeh Chih-sheng steps aboard Taiwan Coast ​Guard vessel CG1005 in the choppy waters of the Taiwan Strait, he brings more than his ‌uniform and orders: he also has temple charms blessed by the gods revered by fishermen for protection at sea.

Off duty, he is an assistant priest, or “sio-huat” in Taiwanese, at a Penghu temple ​devoted to the Five Lords — guardian deities long worshipped by coastal communities for safe seas ⁠and protection from plague.

Yeh has served the gods since primary school, helping spirit mediums during rituals in which deities ​are believed to descend from the heavens and deliver instructions.

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Yeh said, adding that his job was to ​monitor and warn Chinese vessels away using water cannon, loudspeakers, LED boards and radio ​messages …

The sad thing here is imo that there is a need for such a job to be done (rather than this person’s faith). The Chinese Communist Party’s warmongering in the region show what kind of mindset it has.

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