Taiwan Military Brings Back National Security Classes for Graduates, Citing China Threat
Taipei: Taiwan's defence ministry has announced the resumption of patriotic education classes for military academy graduates after a gap of nearly 25 years, citing growing threats from China. The move, effective from July 2026, replaces the earlier 'anti-communist patriotic education' that was renamed in 2002.
The ministry stated that the restored programme aims to help graduates understand national security threats and the military's mission: 'why we fight, and for whom we fight.' Officials from various government departments, including the Mainland Affairs Council and the National Security Council, will deliver lectures to instil a clear awareness of friend and foe.
The decision comes amid a significant increase in Chinese military and Coast Guard activity around Taiwan. As of early July, Taiwan reported tracking over 110 Chinese vessels along the first island chain, an area stretching from Japan to the Philippines and Borneo. Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, described this as a sign of Chinese expansionism.
China's military operates almost daily near Taiwan, and its Coast Guard launched a new patrol off Taiwan's east coast on July 4, prompting a sharp response from Taipei, which rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims over the island. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under control.
The defence ministry emphasised that the classes are necessary to counter perceived infiltration and military threats from China. However, critics argue that the move could escalate tensions between the two sides. China's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment outside office hours.
This development marks a shift in Taiwan's approach to military education, moving back to a more explicit focus on external threats after years of a more neutral patriotic curriculum. The island's government continues to maintain a policy of self-defence while seeking to maintain stability in the region.
