Taiwan claims that growing Chinese disinformation would undermine US-China relations and democracy

Taiwan has charged China with intensifying military threats and misinformation efforts to erode its democracy and partnership with the United States.

According to Taiwan’s government, China is stepping up its attempts to undermine trust in the island’s democratic system and close ties with the United States by launching a massive misinformation campaign that mainly targets internet platforms.

The amount of fabricated or altered material that China spread last year increased by 60%, from 1.33 million pieces in 2023 to 2.16 million pieces, according to Taiwan’s National Security Bureau. The report, which was made public on Friday, listed “controversial information,” but it did not define the phrase precisely. Key outlets for these initiatives were determined to be platforms that appeal to younger audiences, such as Facebook, X (previously Twitter), and TikTok.

The study emphasized China’s use of artificial intelligence to produce phony films, the proliferation of pro-China language in comment sections, and the use of phony accounts to spread propaganda on websites like YouTube. Despite outlawing several international social media sites at home, China uses these same networks abroad to spread false information and messages that are sanctioned by the government.

Beyond digital platforms, Beijing has considerable influence on Taiwanese newspapers and traditional media, according to the research. This influence frequently results from the owners’ commercial interests on the mainland.

Taiwan is seen as a renegade province by China, which has made it clear that it intends to reunite the island with the mainland, even if it means using force. In an oblique allusion to the United States, Taiwan’s most important ally, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed in his New Year’s speech that reunification with Taiwan was inevitable and would not be thwarted by outside forces.

Beijing has increased military operations in the area of Taiwan in addition to its misinformation campaigns, frequently sending ships, bombers, and spy balloons into the island’s waters and airspace. China has increased its naval and missile capabilities to stave against any US military involvement, and large-scale military drills that mimic blockades or invasions have also increased in frequency.

Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, responded by restating the island’s resolve to strengthen its defenses against escalating Chinese threats. Taiwan is an essential part of the global “line of defense for democracy” against authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, according to Lai’s New Year’s address.