Taipei, Dec. 6 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged the military's political warfare officers Sunday to adjust their teaching methodology and approach to conform to the changing times and the situation across the Taiwan Strait.
Addressing a ceremony marking the 50th founding anniversary of the military-run Fuhsiungkang College, the cradle of political warfare teaching, Chen said since mainland China still refuses to renounce the use of force against Taiwan and has continued to use espionage and subversive activities against the island, political warfare units must upgrade operations to help safeguard national security.
Chen said political warfare has been an integral part of the Republic of China's military reform since the ROC government moved its seat from mainland China to Taiwan in 1949.
In the face of Communist China's military threat and "united front" tactics, Chen said, political warfare units have contributed much to boosting loyalty, patriotism, spirit of lawfulness and morale of all ROC officers and men over the past decades.
As the time, environment and mainland China's strategy toward Taiwan have been changing, Chen said, political warfare operations should also keep step with mainstream trends.
Noting that the political warfare system will be fully legalized after the implementation of the integration of military command and administration in March, Chen said political warfare units should play an even more active role in helping other military branches fulfill their missions and thwart mainland China's conspiracy to sow the seeds of discontent in the military under the new command/administration system.
The president also encouraged Fuhsiungkang College to uphold the school's tradition of emphasizing the virtue of honesty, upgrade professionalism and quality of teaching programs, and promote lifelong learning.