Taiwan worries about “disturbing” Chinese electoral interference. After Chinese leader Xi Jinping predicted “reunification” with Taiwan.
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China’s Interference in Taiwan Election Raises Concerns
China’s National Radio and Television Administration pressed pop group Mayday to endorse Beijing’s claims on Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s chief representative in Australia Douglas Hsu. Hsu highlighted that China has interfered in Taiwan’s elections through military exercises, economic pressure, and cognitive warfare.
In reaction to China’s intervention, Hsu said Taiwanese voters can spot and fight bad influences. He suggested that China’s strident rhetoric about “reunification” as a historical inevitability may boost Taiwan’s self-determination. Recent polls show that over 80% of Taiwanese prefer the status quo.
Taiwan’s previous ambassador to Eswatini, Leonard Chao, argued that Xi’s New Year’s Eve address targeted Taiwanese voters, Chinese residents, and American lawmakers. Chao says Xi wants to push Taiwanese voters, distract from China’s problems, and signal China’s tough attitude on reunification with the US.
China’s Election Interference Aims to Portray U.S. as Unreliable
Australian National University political specialist Wen-Ti Sung noted that China’s intervention tries to depict the U.S. as “unreliable” and opposition to Beijing’s objectives as “unwise” to Taiwanese voters. Sung noted China’s propaganda to sow doubt about the U.S. in Taiwan and economic penalties for certain Taiwanese exports to influence the election.
Xi Jinping’s New Year’s Eve message stressed the inevitability of reunification with Taiwan and called for a shared goal across the Taiwan Strait, escalating tensions. This was more forceful than last year. China’s efforts to influence Taiwan’s election could affect U.S.-China ties, as Taiwan remains a difficult topic.
