Chinese Leaders Strategize Coordinated Efforts to Influence Taiwan’s Upcoming Elections

In early December, senior Chinese leaders convened a meeting to “coordinate” government initiatives aimed at influencing the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan, according to intelligence gathered on the island.

Taiwan officials perceive this campaign as interference in the electoral process and have raised concerns about Beijing’s attempts to sway voters towards candidates favoring closer ties with China in the January 13 elections.

The meeting, held in Beijing, was chaired by Wang Huning, the fourth-ranked leader of the Chinese Communist Party and deputy head of Beijing’s Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, chaired by President Xi Jinping.

Multiple Taiwan security officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that senior personnel from agencies including China’s Publicity Department, State Security Ministry, Defence Ministry, and the Taiwan Affairs Office attended the meeting.

U.S. President Joe Biden urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to respect Taiwan’s electoral process last month.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of China did not respond to requests for comment but previously stated it respects Taiwan’s “social systems.”

Other Chinese government departments also did not provide comments.

The meeting’s focus, as per an internal Taiwanese memo, was to “ensure the effectiveness and coordination of various work on the Taiwan elections.”

It concluded that different agencies should “consolidate” efforts, with the Publicity Department and a psychological warfare unit, “Base 311,” under the People’s Liberation Army, conducting influence campaigns through news outlets and social media to sway public opinion.

The memo outlined tasks for the China Taiwan Affairs Office and the United Front Work Department, including outreach programs involving exchange activities with Taiwan politicians and discounted air tickets for Taiwanese living in China to encourage voting.

China plans to continue emphasizing a narrative of a ‘choice between peace and war,’ suggesting that if the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) remains in power, conflict with China is likely.

Taiwan’s government is on high alert for what they perceive as China’s attempts to interfere in the elections through illicit funding, communication apps, group tours, and misinformation campaigns.

Beijing has reportedly sponsored cut-price trips to China for Taiwanese politicians ahead of the elections. One senior official familiar with Taiwan’s security planning noted, “They are coordinating their work on Taiwan in the final days before the elections.

They want the best outcome possible.”

In response to recent scrutiny and negative reactions in Taiwan, the source highlighted that Beijing concluded it must “adjust the pace” of its campaigns to avoid potential backlash from being too obvious with election interference.