Taiwan’s military has resumed ‘anti-communist’ patriotic classes for its graduates after a quarter-century gap, citing a rising threat from China. The classes aim to establish a clear awareness of national security threats among graduates.
Background
During the Cold War, campaigns in Taiwan warned against the dangers of the ‘communist bandits’ in China, whose government views the island as its own territory. The formal ‘anti-communist patriotic education’ for military graduates ended in 2002 and was renamed ‘patriotic education’.
China’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Officials from various departments will offer lectures to the graduates, including the China-policy-making Mainland Affairs Council and the National Security Council.
Taiwan’s defence ministry stated that the classes for its military academy graduates had been restored due to rising military and infiltration danger from China. The aim is to establish among graduates a clear awareness of friend and foe.
Recent Developments
China’s military operates almost daily around Taiwan. 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. China’s Coast Guard launched a new patrol off Taiwan’s east coast, drawing a sharp response from Taipei, which says Beijing has no jurisdiction in those waters.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
