Taiwan-China Relations

National Security Bureau Raising Alarm Over Election Interference

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By Luffy Li/Fuhua Hung/Lery Hiciano

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Taiwan’s National Security Bureau says it has identified nearly 100 cases of suspected Chinese election interference as the country prepares for local elections on November 28. The bureau says tactics include illegal campaign funding, subsidized travel to China, disinformation on social media, targeted propaganda and illegal gambling operations.

Concerns Over Election Interference

REPORTER:  
China’s diverse array of tools designed to infiltrate Taiwan are on full display this election season, according to the National Security Bureau chief. He told lawmakers on Thursday it’s yet another reminder of the threat Beijing poses to Taiwan's democracy.

REPORTER:  
An NSB report says cyberattacks and social media flooded with controversial AI-generated content could indirectly influence election results. It says cases of both have spiked compared with earlier this year and last year.

Tsai Ming-yen (DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU):  
A key feature [of Beijing's] ongoing interference in Taiwan's elections is its precision. [Taiwan's] political authorities and national security agencies are actively investigating cases involving such interference.  
Across all the different types [of election interference] there are already nearly 100 cases.

REPORTER:  
The NSB report said in 2024 there were 71 total cases of election interference. NSB Chief Tsai Ming-yen says they’re seeing six kinds of election interference cases: The Illegal funding of candidates, subsidized travel to and from China, as well as funding for Taiwanese in China to come back and vote, disinformation on social media, as well as the targeting of individuals through propaganda, and illegal gambling operations.

REPORTER:  
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, which handles relations with Beijing, warned that China is directing influence operations at particular Taiwanese political figures.

Shen Yu-chung (DEPUTY MINISTER, MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL):  
They employ different strategies to target specific candidates or political camps, offering electoral incentives for some and resorting to coercion for others that they do not want to win.

REPORTER:  
Some lawmakers say the influence of criminal networks this election season is concerning.

Wang Ting-yu (LEGISLATOR, DPP):  
Illegal money flows have to stop prior to the election otherwise they will have already succeeded.

Tsai Ming-yen (DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU):  
Yes, yes. So how serious is the situation this year? There have been some cases. So I hope they are resolved before the election and will serve as deterrents.

REPORTER:  
Members of the opposition Kuomintang have this week also spoken up about the threats of foreign interference in the country's elections, with influential KMT member and former vice-presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong saying Taiwanese voters have the wisdom and ability to choose their candidates.

REPORTER:  
Millions of people are set to cast their ballots across the country on November 28. The government hopes exposing these interference tactics will help defend Taiwan’s democracy.