Taipei is closely monitoring what it described as “abnormal” changes in China’s military leadership following the investigation of one of Beijing’s most senior generals, with Taiwan’s defence minister emphasizing that the island will not lower its guard amid persistent threats.
China announced on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and second-in-command under President Xi Jinping, along with another senior officer, Liu Zhenli, were under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law.” Zhang, a veteran of the 1979 border conflict with Vietnam, has long been regarded as one of Xi’s closest military allies.
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo told reporters at parliament on Monday (Jan 26) that the ministry would continue to “closely monitor abnormal changes among the top levels of China’s party, government, and military leadership.” He emphasized that Taiwan’s military posture remains grounded in the reality that China has never abandoned the use of force against the island.
Koo stressed that the ministry is not reacting to any single leadership reshuffle. “What we want is a comprehensive grasp of all indicators—military and non-military—reflecting China’s intentions and actions, and then make an integrated overall assessment,” he said, without providing further specifics.
China has stepped up military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, sending warplanes and warships near the island almost daily, in what Taipei views as a sustained campaign to push it toward Beijing’s sovereignty claims. Late last month, China conducted another round of large-scale war games around Taiwan, while its defence spending continues to rise.
Koo told lawmakers that the threat from China is intensifying and that Taiwan cannot afford complacency. “We won’t let the downfall of any one person make us lower our guard or slacken the level of war preparedness we should maintain,” he said.
Taiwan plans to continue exchanging intelligence with international partners to assess potential changes in China’s military command structure. Koo highlighted the need to focus on early-warning indicators, both military and non-military, to ensure Taiwan remains prepared for any possible developments.
Taiwan maintains that its future can only be decided by its people, underscoring its commitment to sovereignty amid ongoing tensions with Beijing.
