China more interested in expansion than solving economic problems, Taiwan official says

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Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu speaks at a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan January 9, 2024. REUTERS/Ann Wang

TAIPEI - 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, the islands top security official said on Tuesday.

Democratically-governed Taiwan has complained of a stepped up military and diplomatic pressure campaign by Beijing, which views the island as its own territory, including regular war games near the island. Taiwans government rejects Chinas sovereignty claims.

Speaking at a forum in Taipei, Joseph Wu, head of Taiwans National Security Council, noted that Chinas ruling 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 leadership coming up with good or big packages to bring their economy up from the slump, its about the purge of top PLA generals, he said, referring to the Peoples Republic of China and Peoples Liberation Army.

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 months massive military parade in Beijing held by President Xi Jinping to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

The footages of the September 3rd military parade gave an impression