Inside China’s Military, Resistance to a Taiwan War Runs Deep

Insiders say widespread opposition, political purges, and logistical weaknesses undermine Beijing’s ability to launch a sustained attack on Taiwan.

Chinese ships patrol as the PLA conduct military drills on Pingtan island—the closest point to Taiwan—in eastern Fujian Province, China, on Dec. 30, 2025. Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images

Multiple sources close to China’s military say Chinese leader Xi Jinping has long faced resistance within the armed forces over the prospect of an invasion of Taiwan. According to these insiders, opposition to a war is not confined to a handful of dissenting generals but is broadly shared across different branches of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

“Everyone in the military understands what a real war [would mean],” one source close to the PLA told The Epoch Times. “Once fighting begins, there would be massive casualties and the depletion of entire service branches. If things go badly, a whole branch could be wiped out.”