TAIPEI: Taiwan ‘s , government says China is redoubling efforts to undermine confidence in the self-governing island’s democracy and close ties with the United States through the spread of disinformation, especially online.
According to the National Security Bureau, China distributed 2.16 million bits of fake or biased information last year, up from 1.33 million in 2023, to 2.16 million.
Much of the boost in deception focused on media outlets used mostly by younger persons, such as movie channels, communities and X, formerly known as Twitter,  , Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported.
The brief National Security Bureau report from Friday ( Jan 3 ) included “pieces of controversial information,” but it did not go further.
Twitter and X were the principal conduits for propaganda, along with systems that directly target young individuals such as TikTok, the statement said.
China used artificial intelligence and “inauthentic accounts” to deliver its advertising on YouTube, flooded comments sections with pro-China statements, the statement continued.  ,
A full of 28, 216 fake balances were identified in 2024, up 11, 661 from 2023, the Central News Agency reported, adding that another tactics used include malware Chinese accounts to deceive Chinese people and military personnel.
Through their proprietors ‘ business objectives in mainland China, Beijing now has a significant impact on Taiwanese newspapers and other traditional advertising.
China asserts that Taiwan is its own place and that it can be brought under its power by force if necessary. In his New Year’s target, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterated that unification with Taiwan was unavoidable and couldn’t be obstructed by outside forces, making a guide to the US, Taiwan’s most significant ally.
China frequently conducts military exercises to create an area siege or invasion, sending warplanes, ships, and balloons into Taiwan-held areas. Beijing has also been expanding its military and missile defenses to attack important targets and repel American military support.
In his own New Year’s speech, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te declared that the area may continue to improve its defenses in the face of rising Chinese challenges.
Taiwan, he said, was a critical part of the global “line of army of politics” against authoritarian state for as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.