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Taiwan’s National Security Council head Joseph Wu said on Tuesday that China is more focused on expansionism than addressing its own economic and social difficulties, as he reaffirmed the island’s determination to defend itself from any Chinese aggression.
Wu made the remarks during a forum in Taipei, criticising Beijing’s ruling Communist Party for intensifying military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan instead of solving domestic challenges. China claims Taiwan as its own territory, while the island’s democratically elected government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
China’s internal purge and military display
Wu pointed out that China’s leadership is holding a key plenum of senior officials this week, yet attention remains on the purge of top military officers rather than economic revival. “Even though we see worrisome trends in the Chinese economy, the news these days is not about how the PRC leadership is reviving the economy but about the purge of top PLA generals,” he said, referring to the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Liberation Army.
Last week, China expelled two senior military leaders from the party and the armed forces on corruption charges, marking the highest-level dismissals in an anti-graft campaign launched in 2023. Wu also referenced the massive military parade in Beijing on September 3, led by President Xi Jinping to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, saying it projected China’s pursuit of global dominance rather than efforts to fix internal problems.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately comment on Wu’s remarks.
Wu reiterated that President Lai Ching-te remains committed to maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait and will not act as a provocateur. However, he emphasised that peace must be backed by strength, underlining the government’s continued investment in defence.
“Please allow me to be straightforward. Taiwan is determined to defend itself,” Wu stated.
(With agency inputs)
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