According to a Reuters report, this interference campaign has extended to public opinion – with the mainland's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) allegedly tapping the services of popular Taiwanese rock band Mayday. The NRTA reportedly asked the band to publicly make pro-Beijing statements, support the CCP's "One China Policy," cooperate with anti-Taipei propaganda efforts and provide other unspecified "political services" ahead of the elections. Mayday refused the offer from Beijing.
Aside from this, the CCP said during a working meeting about the Taiwan elections that its efforts will shift from a comprehensive influence campaign to a subtler strategy. The plan, which seeks to leave no evidence of CCP interference, involves coordinated efforts in online propaganda and lucrative deals for Taiwanese civilian groups to visit China.
The mainland's efforts to undermine Taiwan's elections is rooted in Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping's desire to bring the island nation under its wing.
During the Dec. 26 birthday of former CCP Chairman Mao Tse-Tung at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xi stressed the need to fulfill Mao's vision. He also advocated for the continuation of the One China Policy and the 1992 Consensus, noting that the unification of China is a "historic inevitability." The paramount leader stressed that deepening ties with Beijing and Taipei would make Taiwan's independence impossible.
A month earlier, Xi told U.S. President Joe Biden of his intent to bring Taiwan back into the fold in a peaceful manner during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Despite this, the Chinese leader also mentioned that the CCP seeks to support pro-China political parties and exert economic influence in the region to advance Beijing's interests and impede Taiwan's independence. (Related: Xi shares with Biden his intention to "peacefully" take Taiwan – but full-scale INVASION remains on the table.)
China hates Taiwan's democracy and freedom
According to analysts, the CCP's discontent with Taiwan stems from the latter's democratic system – something that contrasts with Beijing's authoritarianism and perceived malevolence. Current affairs commentator Zhang Tianliang is one such pundit espousing this view.
"The issue of Taiwan has nothing to do with China's national unity, Taiwan's independence or [its] territorial disputes – but is about Taiwan's democratic system," he told NTD News. "Taiwan and China share the same roots; if Taiwan can hold elections, why can't China? Therefore, the CCP hates Taiwan's democracy and freedom."
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu also echoed these sentiments in a September 2023 interview with Al Jazeera. He told the outlet that the mainland is "trying to export its authoritarianism through different kinds of mechanisms" as it is now experiencing an economic slowdown.
"If you look at the Chinese government's policies, they are creating an economic environment that is not friendly anymore. For example, they have an anti-espionage law. They can check business operations, they can detain people [and] they can prohibit companies from doing certain things," said Wu.
"They are exporting their Belt and Road Initiative, and they are also exporting digital authoritarian mechanisms to the Global South – contrary to our shared beliefs in freedom and democracy, protection of human rights, rule of law and all this."
The minister also predicted that China could use dis- and misinformation campaigns instead of large-scale military offensives to turn the election in their favor. He also recounted how Beijing would test-fire missiles during Taiwan's election cycle, a practice that has been ongoing since the island nation's 1996 elections. But Wu ultimately said that whenever the mainland tries to interfere with Taiwan's elections, it always backfires.
Read more stories about the potential conflict between China and Taiwan at WWIII.news.
Watch Brannon Howse of "Worldview Report" and David Zhang of the Epoch Times discussing the possibility of China invading Taiwan as early as 2024.
This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.
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