Voters in the nine-in-one local elections on Nov. 26 did not regard the China issue as the most important concern when casting their ballots, despite Beijing’s best efforts. The Information Operations Research Group uncovered a lot of disinformation spread by China this year in its attempts to sway voters with its rhetoric on “war” and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disinformation regarding war might be more effective in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. In a report released on Saturday based on a review of more than 8 million Facebook posts, 6,000 news articles from Taiwan, 2,000 official releases from China regarding Taiwan affairs, 800,000 posts on Chinese social media and 50,000 TikTok videos this year found that “war” and “pandemic” were the two top issues involved when information was manipulated.
For example, a Facebook account titled “Headline across the Strait,” which the Investigation Bureau determined was funded by China, posted negative news reports targeting former minister of health and welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate for Taipei mayor.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February and China held military drills surrounding Taiwan in August, research by the group showed that China tried to spread disinformation with headlines such as: “The Russia-Ukraine war happened due to Ukraine’s provocation, so Taiwan shouldn’t be provocative to China,” “Once war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, the US will abandon Taiwan” and “China holds drill, USS Ronald Reagan flees.”
This disinformation is obviously part of China’s cognitive warfare aimed at provoking the fear of war and increasing the tendency to capitulate.
More concerning is that some politicians and pro-China groups in Taiwan are echoing the rhetoric.
In last month’s elections, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and senior party figures such as former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) spread messages saying that “voting for the DPP could bring war, and supporting the KMT would ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait.”
Former UMC chairman Robert Tsao (曹興誠) admonished Ma, saying he was trying to brainwash the public to surrender without fighting and to sacrifice Taiwan to achieve Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Taiwan has endured China’s military threat for more than 70 years and has never been a threat to China, but Xi has made it clear that China will use all measures to annex Taiwan. There is no room for the Republic of China, nor for Taiwan’s sovereignty or freedom.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned that “China is the only country with both the will and, increasingly, the power to reshape its region and the international order to suit its authoritarian preference,” adding: “Let’s make it clear. We won’t let that happen.”
Japan also plans to increase its national defense budget.
To avoid war takes wisdom and bravery. The government has shown reasonable restraint in the face of China’s provocation ranging from military threats to economic and diplomatic suppression. Boosting self-defense capability and military preparedness should be crucial strategies to deter the enemy from launching a war that will hurt both sides.
More international support could enhance Taiwan’s strength, but it is crucial that Taiwanese show a strong will to protect their homeland. This effort begins with stopping the spread of disinformation.
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