China is more interested in expansionism than solving its own pressing economic and social issues, and Taiwan is determined to defend itself from Chinese aggression, Taiwan's top security official said today.
Speaking at a forum in Taipei, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said that the Chinese Communist Party was this week holding a key meeting of senior officials, known as a plenum.
"Even though we see worrisome trends in the Chinese economy, the news these days is not how the PRC [People's Republic of China] leadership coming up with good or big packages to bring their economy up from the slump, it's about the purge of top PLA [Chinese People's Liberation Army] generals," he said.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Last week, ahead of the plenum, China announced two top military leaders had been expelled from the party and the military on corruption charges, the most senior officers to be purged in an anti-graft drive that began in 2023.
Wu also mentioned the scenes from last month's massive military parade in Beijing held by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
"The footages of the Sept. 3 military parade gave an impression of China still seeking global dominance, not solving domestic economic and social problems. This doesn't make too much sense to me," he added.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Wu said that President William Lai (賴清德) was committed to maintaining the "status quo" across the Taiwan Strait, and that while Taiwan "will not be seen as a provocateur," peace had to come through strength, hence the government's commitment to increased defense spending.
"Please allow me to be straightforward. Taiwan is determined to defend itself," he said.
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