Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has urged graduating military cadets to remain vigilant against Chinese espionage and safeguard Taiwan’s democracy, warning that Beijing continues to intensify efforts to infiltrate the island’s armed forces.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at Fu Hsing Kang College on the outskirts of Taipei on Tuesday, Lai said military personnel must remain loyal to the nation and resist attempts by China to undermine Taiwan’s security.
He warned that China’s infiltration, espionage, sabotage and influence operations pose a growing threat to Taiwan’s military, calling on cadets to clearly distinguish between allies and adversaries.
“Only by resisting all forms of threats and temptation can we defend our nation’s sovereignty and security,” Lai said.
The president also encouraged graduates to uphold democratic values and freedom while opposing communism. He reiterated Taiwan’s long-standing position that the Republic of China, Taiwan’s official name, and the People’s Republic of China are separate and are not subordinate to one another.
Taiwan has reported a growing number of alleged Chinese espionage cases in recent years, particularly involving current and former members of its armed forces.
Beijing regards self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels continue to operate regularly around Taiwan.
Fu Hsing Kang College, now part of Taiwan’s National Defence University, was established in 1951, two years after the Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan following its defeat by Mao Zedong’s Communist forces in the Chinese Civil War.
The institution was originally founded to train political warfare officers and strengthen anti-communist ideology within Taiwan’s military, a legacy that continues to shape its traditions.
The ceremony was held beneath a prominent inscription written by former Republic of China leader Chiang Kai-shek, stating: “I regard the nation’s rise or fall as my own personal responsibility.”
Chiang remains a divisive historical figure in Taiwan, praised by some for his staunch anti-communist stance while criticised by others for his authoritarian rule.
During the Cold War, the college also trained military officers from other anti-communist countries and continues to enrol international students today.
Among those attending Tuesday’s graduation ceremony were the ambassadors of Belize, Guatemala and Paraguay, three of the few countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, as well as Jordan’s de facto ambassador despite Amman’s lack of official diplomatic recognition of the island.
