Taiwan military resumes anti-communist patriotic classes for graduates amid rising China threat

Taiwan's military has resumed "anti-communist" patriotic classes for its graduates, marking the end of a 25-year gap since such formal education was last provided. The defense ministry announced the decision on Sunday, citing a growing threat from China and a recent increase in Chinese naval activity.

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It is necessary for them to clearly understand national security threats and recognize the military mission of 'why we fight, and for whom we fight'.

During the Cold War, Taiwan widely promoted campaigns warning against the dangers posed by China's "communist bandits." However, the formal "anti-communist patriotic education" for military graduates was phased out in 2002 and subsequently renamed "patriotic education."

The defense ministry stated that reinstating these classes for military academy graduates is essential due to escalating military and infiltration dangers from China. The goal is to ensure graduates clearly understand national security threats and the military's core mission: "why we fight, and for whom we fight." Officials from various government departments, including the Mainland Affairs Council and the National Security Council, are slated to lecture the graduates.

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The aim is to establish among graduates a clear awareness of friend and foe.

This development occurs amid heightened tensions. Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, reported on Saturday that Taiwan was tracking a record number of over 110 Chinese military and Coast Guard ships operating around the island chain. Wu described this as a "clear sign of its expansionism." Additionally, China's defense ministry announced that Chinese and Russian navies would conduct joint exercises off the coast of Qingdao next week, with some forces proceeding to the Pacific for joint maritime patrols.

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China's massive maritime mobilization along the 1st Island Chain is a clear sign of its expansionism.