Overview
- Taiwan's defence ministry announced the reinstatement of formal anti-communist patriotic classes for military academy graduates on July 5 as a response to rising threats from China.
- The curriculum will include lectures by the Mainland Affairs Council, the National Security Council, the Ministry of Justice and Academia Sinica to explain national security risks and the military's mission.
- Taiwan officials point to a surge in Chinese activity near the island as a rationale, with National Security Council secretary-general Joseph Wu reporting a record tracking of more than 110 Chinese military and coast guard ships along the first island chain.
- The change reverses a 2002 move that dropped explicit anti-communist training in favor of a generic 'patriotic education' and signals a return to more ideologically explicit preparation for officers.
- Analysts say the step could strengthen unit cohesion and deterrence messaging, affect how foreign governments and markets judge Taiwan's risk profile, and should be watched alongside further PLA or coast guard actions near Taiwan's waters.