'Fight to the death': Taiwan faces unchartered path

All is quiet during the changing of the guard outside Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei before the gathered crowd erupts.

Taiwanese flags line Democracy Boulevard as cheering locals and tourists alike encircle the strictly choreographed ceremony.

Women in short skirts stand side-by-side with those wearing conservative religious garments.

China claims self-governed Taiwan as a breakaway province.

The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) fled to the island in 1949 during the civil war with the Chinese Communist Party.

Cultural artefacts including the prized Jade Cabbage, given as a dowry gift to an emperor's consort in the 19th century, is one of the many treasures that were taken across the Taiwan Strait.

Officials from Beijing say they are not bothered by the objects being on display in Taiwan, as it is a part of China.

Many Taiwanese people speak about their shared ancestry with the mainland but consider themselves culturally distinct.

Only a dozen nations recognise Taiwan as a state. Australia is part of the overwhelming majority that does not.

Canberra continued to recognise the Republic of China until diplomatic relations were set up with the People's Republic of China - established by the communist party - in 1972.

Taipei's representative offices in Australia do not have diplomatic status and dealings take place unofficially.

But trade between the two is worth billions and a number of travel and academic exchanges take place.

Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019 and Taipei is adorned with pride flags and rainbow road crossings.

About 170,000 people took part in the pride parade in October, which has been celebrated annually since 2003.

China has meanwhile increasingly conducted military drills around Taiwan, with more than 150 aircraft swarming the island in mid-October.

A declaration of independence is a clear red line many Taiwanese officials say they will not cross.

A survey completed earlier this year showed more than 80 per cent of Taiwanese respondents wanted to maintain the status-quo with China.

The number of those wanting independence has been dropping since 2020.

Department of International Information Services Director General Catherine Hsu says Taipei is not fearful of an invasion by China.

However I-Chung Lai, president of government-funded think tank Prospect Foundation, insists the majority of Taiwanese are ready to take a stand to protect their freedom and democracy.

Asked what he would advise in the face of an invasion, he says: "That's a very easy answer, we'll go to war. We'll fight to the death."

Dr Lai says despite concerns about an invasion, officials are also considering a blockade or an "anaconda" strategy, where Taiwan would be strangled into submission.

"We need to prepare ourselves (so) we can fight tonight and win, that China cannot prevail in a successful military operation," he says.

Taiwanese factcheckers say the island is a target for serious disinformation campaigns, often aimed at undermining democracy as a form of government.

According to Taiwan FactCheck Center chief executive Eve Chiu shared-language across the strait means lots of fake news floods Taiwanese feeds.

Doctored images showing US Vice-President Kamala Harris in a bikini and embracing disgraced American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein on a beach with a caption "this is real," have been picked up via monitoring of the online space.

Ms Chiu says another area malicious groups would target include fuelling US scepticism among the general public.

A deepfake appeared online, showing a heavily-edited video of a US politician falsely saying Washington was keen to arm Taiwan for a coming war with Beijing.

In fact, the original video showed him being questioned by American reporters about the state of the US economy.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Francois Wu has told journalists it is sometimes "lonely" being Taiwanese, as many countries prioritise good economic relations with Beijing.

Despite the uncertainty, he was defiant in the face of questions Taiwan might capitulate.

"We have to be careful but that does not mean that we have to be intimidated by China," he said.

"They said they (have) wanted to occupy Taiwan since 1949 and look at what has happened. We are still here, standing alive."

The AAP reporter travelled to Taipei with the assistance of the Taiwanese government.