In a rare move, Taiwan’s military is using a Taipei university campus to train reservists to prepare for the possibility of urban warfare against the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), prompting concerns and criticism.
Taiwan’s defence minister, however, defended the decision, emphasising the need to consider frontline conditions to deter PLA attacks.
National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei announced last week that it would provide part of its campus to train 100 reservists from November 23 to 29.
The notice drew attention as it marks the first time the university – one of Taiwan’s best – has cooperated with the military for such purposes.
While universities elsewhere on the island have been used for military training, it has typically happened during holiday breaks while students are away from campus.
It is also the first time a university in Taipei has hosted military training. The NCCU training is meant to prepare for urban warfare, whereas the focus of past training has been on preventing the PLA from reaching cities.
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