Taiwan’s military has restored the original framing of its patriotic education programme as an “anti-communism” training initiative, citing escalating security threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to statements from the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
The programme, first introduced in 1965, is designed to prepare newly commissioned officers for frontline service by reinforcing their understanding of national defence priorities and identifying perceived external threats. It had previously been renamed “Patriotic Education” in 2002, but officials said it has now reverted to its original focus and designation amid what they described as intensified military pressure from Beijing.
According to the MND, the revised programme is intended to strengthen graduates’ understanding of cross-strait security dynamics, including the nature of threats posed by China and the operational responsibilities of Taiwan’s armed forces. The ministry said the change reflects concerns over the CCP’s continued military expansion, alongside what it described as increased “united front” infiltration efforts and grey-zone activities targeting Taiwan.
Newly graduated officers from Taiwan’s eight military academies are required to attend the training as part of their transition into active service, continuing a long-standing practice, the ministry said. The latest cohort completed the programme at the National Defense University’s Fuxinggang campus.
The curriculum, according to the MND, includes sessions on Taiwan’s cross-strait policy, cognitive warfare, infiltration and recruitment operations, and broader authoritarian expansion. Officials and academics from institutions including the Mainland Affairs Council, National Security Council, Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, Military Intelligence Bureau, and Academia Sinica participated as speakers in this year’s programme.
Military officials told participants that the training is intended to clarify the distinction between friendly and hostile forces and to reinforce the mission of defending Taiwan’s sovereignty. Chief of the General Staff Admiral Mei Chia-shu, speaking during the programme, told graduates that wearing the military uniform represents a national responsibility and a commitment to defend the country and its people.
Officials from Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council also used the training to outline concerns over Beijing’s political and legal strategies. Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said the Chinese Communist Party’s governance model is designed to consolidate power and eliminate political opposition, and warned that new legislation expanding Beijing’s claimed jurisdiction could undermine regional stability.
The programme also included briefings on military readiness and operational conditions delivered by senior defence intelligence officials. Lieutenant General Hsieh Jih-sheng encouraged graduates to translate their academic training into practical defence capability as they begin frontline service.
Sessions on cognitive warfare highlighted concerns over disinformation and influence operations. National Security Council adviser Alex Huang told participants that Taiwan faces sustained foreign information operations aimed at undermining public trust and military cohesion. He described cognitive warfare as a non-kinetic form of conflict in which information is used to influence public perception and decision-making.
The MND said Taiwan has been among the most targeted countries globally in terms of foreign disinformation campaigns, particularly in the digital environment, where open communication platforms can be exploited for influence operations.
Defence analysts cited by the ministry said that while the programme’s name has changed over time, its core objective remains focused on educating officers about security threats and national defence policy. However, they noted that the restoration of the “anti-communism” framing signals a more explicit emphasis on geopolitical confrontation and threat perception in the current security environment.
The revised programme comes amid continued tension across the Taiwan Strait, with officials describing an increasingly complex mix of conventional military pressure and non-traditional security threats shaping Taiwan’s defence posture.
