Taiwan tycoon to train three million "civilian warriors"

Tsao, who donned body armour for his announcement, warned it would be “an intentional slaughter and vicious war crime and crime against humanity” if China were to use force against Taiwan.

The tycoon said he would put TW$600 million towards training three million “black bear warriors” in the next three years who could work alongside the military.

Another TW$400 million will be used to train 300,000 “marksmen” with shooting skills.

Tsao, who no longer holds any position or title with UMC, portrayed the risk posed by China as existential.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s threat to Taiwan is growing and the fight against (it) stands for freedom against slavery, democracy against authoritarianism and civilised against barbaric,” he said.