In 2016, I had the opportunity to work in China and ended up in Chengdu. That’s where I learned about Chiang Kai-shek’s retreat to Taiwan, and the story sparked my interest in Formosa. As a Pole, I am acutely aware of Taiwan’s precarious geopolitical position. The ever-present threat of foreign invasion has shaped the Polish mentality. Communist China denies Taiwan statehood, just as Russia sometimes denies Polish statehood.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Taiwan is a shining example of a free society, while China is an egregious example of a surveillance state. Ironically, though not surprisingly, fanatical communists often live in the West. They have no idea what people living in communist countries are going through, and they wouldn’t last a day in North Korea. Russia and China have a similar mentality. Both countries want to impose their will on other nations; only their methods differ. They sneer at human rights and are collectivist and hierarchical. Russia is unapologetically aggressive, while the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wants to project an image of restraint and neutrality. Luckily, the world sees through the facade. Ukrainian refugees – mostly women and children - have integrated into Polish society with ease. It’s hardly surprising, as Ukrainians are culturally close to us, and many Ukrainians speak Polish without an accent. Country cousins We sometimes call Ukrainians our cousins. Sure, we weren’t always on good terms. In fact, there were brutal chapters in Polish-Ukrainian history. We remember the past and look forward to the future, hoping not to repeat past mistakes.