The AIT has confirmed that it provides funding (經費) to a wide range of
social groups and non-profit organizations, including Kuma Academy, with the
aim of promoting U.S.-Taiwan cooperation.

In a response to news media, the American Institute in Taiwan says it
provides small grant programs (小額獎助金計畫) to many local social groups to
emphasize shared values (強調共享價值), adding that details are disclosed in
AIT’s year-end plans.

The statment comes after New Party's Taipei city councilor Ho Han-ting
accused DPP lawmaker Shen Bo-yang, the founder of Kuma Academy, of violating
the National Security Act (國安法) for accepting funding from abroad
(接受境外資金).

Ho called on Shen to resign from his lawmaker's office.

Kuma Academy was established at the end of 2021 and registered as a company
in the following May.

It promotes learning from Ukraine’s model of organizing a "civilian
territorial defense force (民間國土防衛軍)."

Shen himself admitted that AIT funding was crucial for organizing civil
defense camps and that officials had provided guidance multiple times
(多次提供指導).

(JL)