The Times podcast: Taiwan prepares for China's wrath

A woman uses her mobile phone as she walks in front of a large screen showing a news broadcast about China's military exercises encircling Taiwan, in Beijing on August 4, 2022. - China's largest-ever military exercises encircling Taiwan kicked off August 4, in a show of force straddling vital international shipping lanes after a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Photo by Noel Celis / AFP) (Photo by NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A person looking at a phone walks in front of a large screen in Beijing showing a news broadcast about China's military exercises encircling Taiwan — a show of force by China after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governed island. (Noel Celis / AFP via Getty Images)

Last week, Nancy Pelosi became the first House speaker in a quarter-century to visit Taiwan. China viewed Pelosi’s trip as a direct challenge. As tensions over the self-governed island ratchet up, Taiwan is preparing for war. But are its people ready?

We get into that today. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guest: L.A. Times China correspondent Stephanie Yang

More reading:

Fears of a Chinese invasion have Taiwanese civilians taking up target practice

News Analysis: As Pelosi leaves Taiwan, stability in Asia grows more precarious

Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, increasing tensions between the U.S. and China

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.