TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Taiwanese government has asserted that China is intensifying its efforts to erode faith in the island’s democratic processes and its close relationship with the United States through a vast campaign of disinformation, particularly on digital platforms.
According to the National Security Bureau, the volume of misleading or slanted information disseminated by China surged by 60% last year, rising from 1.33 million to a staggering 2.16 million instances of false information by the end of the year.
The report, published on Friday, quantified the “pieces of controversial information” but did not elaborate on how this term is defined. The main channels identified for spreading disinformation included social media giants like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), alongside platforms aimed at younger audiences, notably TikTok.
China has been engaging in the creation of “inauthentic accounts” across platforms like YouTube to advance its propaganda goals and has utilized artificial intelligence to manufacture misleading videos. Furthermore, the report noted that comment sections have been inundated with pro-China messages. Despite its censorship of global social media platforms within its own territory, China has actively exploited these platforms to propagate both official narratives and misinformation abroad.
Additionally, Beijing has managed to exert substantial influence over Taiwanese media outlets, including newspapers, largely due to their owners’ commercial interests linked to mainland China.
China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of military force to achieve unification. In his New Year’s speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that reunification with Taiwan is unavoidable and cannot be obstructed by external forces, likely alluding to the United States, Taiwan’s foremost ally.
China routinely conducts air and naval operations near Taiwanese territory, including dispatching military aircraft, ships, and surveillance balloons while conducting military exercises that simulate blockades or invasions. The country has also been bolstering its naval capabilities and missile systems aimed at critical targets and countering American military support.
In response, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te declared during his own New Year’s address that the island would persist in enhancing its defensive measures amid rising threats from China. He emphasized that Taiwan is a vital segment of the global defense line for democracy against authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
