Taiwan’s President Vows to Counter China’s Influence Operations

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te warned of China’s intensified influence campaigns, espionage, and infiltration efforts against the democratic island. He pledged new countermeasures to protect Taiwan’s sovereignty and security.

Following a high-level security meeting, Lai accused Beijing of leveraging Taiwan’s democratic system to infiltrate society, including organized crime, media figures, and military personnel. He cited government data showing that 64 individuals were charged with Chinese espionage in 2023, a threefold increase from 2021. Most were current or former military officials.

Lai condemned China’s strategies as acts of "division, destruction, and subversion" and labeled them as threats under Taiwan’s Anti-Infiltration Act. In response, his administration proposed 17 legal and economic measures to counter Beijing’s tactics. These include stricter scrutiny of Chinese citizens applying for Taiwan visits or residency, financial and technological oversight, and reinstating the military court’s role.

The president also addressed China’s influence over Taiwan’s entertainment industry, stating that pop stars performing in China would receive official warnings regarding their public statements. This move counters Beijing’s alleged efforts to pressure celebrities into making pro-China remarks.

Taiwan has long rejected China’s sovereignty claims, maintaining that only its people can determine their future. Meanwhile, China has ramped up military drills, trade restrictions, and disinformation campaigns to push its territorial claims. Lai affirmed that Taiwan must take proactive steps to safeguard its democracy and freedoms against growing external threats.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to the accusations.