Taiwan’s government says that China is intensifying efforts to erode confidence in the island’s democratic system and its strong relationship with the United States through a widespread disinformation campaign, primarily targeting online platforms.
According to Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, the volume of false or manipulated content disseminated by China surged by 60% last year, rising to 2.16 million pieces from 1.33 million in 2023. The report, released on Friday, documented “controversial information” but did not provide a precise definition of the term. Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok—popular among younger audiences—were identified as key channels for these campaigns.
The report highlighted China’s use of fake accounts to push propaganda on platforms like YouTube, the deployment of artificial intelligence to create fabricated videos, and the inundation of comment sections with pro-China rhetoric. While China bans many global social media platforms domestically, it leverages these same networks internationally to propagate both state-approved messages and misinformation.
Beijing’s influence extends beyond digital platforms, with the report noting significant sway over Taiwanese newspapers and traditional media, often stemming from the mainland business interests of their owners.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has repeatedly stated its intent to reunify the island with the mainland, by force if necessary. In his New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that reunification with Taiwan was inevitable and would not be deterred by external forces—an implicit reference to the United States, Taiwan’s key ally.
In addition to its disinformation efforts, Beijing has escalated military activities around Taiwan, regularly deploying warplanes, ships, and surveillance balloons into the island’s airspace and waters. Large-scale military exercises simulating blockades or invasions have also become more frequent, alongside the expansion of China’s navy and missile capabilities to counter potential US military intervention.
In response, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te reaffirmed the island’s commitment to bolstering its defences against growing Chinese threats. In his New Year’s message, Lai described Taiwan as a pivotal component of the global “line of defence for democracy” against authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
Frances Ibiefo
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