China05 July, 20262 min read
Taiwan Restores Anti-Communist Patriotic Education Classes for Graduates Citing China Threat
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Taiwan's defense ministry restores anti-communist patriotic education for military graduates amid China's threats. Program revived after about a 25-year gap amid rising China tensions.
Classes Resumed Amid China Threat
Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Sunday it restored “anti-communist patriotic education” classes for military academy graduates after a quarter-century gap, citing rising military and infiltration danger from China. The ministry said the classes were restored after the formal “anti-communist patriotic education” ended in 2002 and was renamed “patriotic education”. In a statement, Taiwan’s defence ministry said, “It is necessary for them to clearly understand national security threats and recognise the military mission of ‘why we fight, and for whom we fight’.”
“The formal ‘anti-communist patriotic education’ for military graduates ended in 2002, being renamed ‘patriotic education’.”
Taiwan’s defence ministry added that officials from departments including the China-policy-making Mainland Affairs Council, the National Security Council, the Ministry of Justice and Academia Sinica would offer lectures to the graduates. The Reuters report also said China’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment outside office hours.
Tracking Chinese Ships
Taiwan’s National Security Council secretary-general Joseph Wu said on X late on Saturday that as of Friday Taiwan was tracking a record of more than 110 Chinese military and Coast Guard ships up and down the first island chain. Wu described the deployment as “a clear sign of its expansionism,” referring to an area stretching from Japan to Taiwan, the Philippines and Borneo. The Reuters report said China’s Coast Guard launched a new patrol off Taiwan’s east coast on Saturday, drawing a sharp response from Taipei.
Taipei said Beijing has no jurisdiction in those waters, and Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims. The Reuters report also said China’s military operates almost daily around Taiwan.
Friend and Foe Stakes
Taiwan’s defence ministry said the aim of the revived programme is “to establish among graduates a clear awareness of friend and foe,” as officials from the Mainland Affairs Council, the National Security Council, the Ministry of Justice and Academia Sinica deliver lectures. The Reuters report said China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and it said China’s military operates almost daily around Taiwan. WION reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday (July 1) that resolving the Taiwan issue is a “historic mission” and an “unshakable commitment” of the Communist Party of China.
“‘The aim is to establish among graduates a clear awareness of friend and foe,’ it added.”
WION said Xi reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to the “one country, two systems” framework at an event in Beijing on the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Against that backdrop, Taiwan’s defence ministry framed the restored classes as a response to rising military and infiltration danger from China.