Inspired by Ukraine, and worried by China: Taiwan teaches its citizens how to fly drones

Ordinary Taiwanese, young and old, are joining courses to learn how to fly drones amid looming China military threat

In a small, crowded room in Taipei, Pan Chien-chin is trying to keep a drone hovering steadily. Imagining himself flying a plane, he gently nudges controller joysticks to guide the insect-like device as it hums through the air.

Cheers break out as Pan, who has never flown a drone before, steers it around a rectangular course marked by traffic cones without crashing. Around him are about two dozen fellow trainees, all signed up for the same course: Taiwan's first civil defence drone training programme.