There have been clear signs of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) attempts to interfere in the nationwide recall vote on July 26 in support of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators facing recall, an unnamed government official said, warning about possible further actions.
The CCP is actively involved in Taiwanese politics, and interference in the recall vote is to be expected, with multiple Chinese state media and TAO attempts to discredit the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and undermine public support of their recall movement, the official said.
This interference includes a smear campaign initiated this month by a pro-Beijing Hong Kong news outlet against DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), they said.
Photo: Tsung Chang-chin, Taipei Times
The CCP may even consider sending Taiwanese businesspeople in China back to Taiwan to participate in the recall vote, the official said.
However, with China’s economic decline and supply chain issues during the past few years, many Taiwanese have returned from China, limiting their mobilization abilities, they said.
The official questioned whether China had adequate resources to financially support KMT legislators facing recall, though if any CCP-linked funds were to enter Taiwan to affect the recall vote, they would be investigated thoroughly, they said.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) has voiced support for the KMT in recent days, criticizing the DPP for using “any means necessary” to suppress opposition parties and escalating a wave of “green terror.”
The TAO also called on Taiwanese to oppose the DPP.
In an attempt to pressure recall groups and petitioners, the CPP recently launched smear campaigns against a number of public and political figures.
The CCP targeted United Microelectronics founder and former CEO Robert Tsao (曹興誠), an initiator of recalls against KMT politicians, claiming that he had an extramarital affair with a Chinese woman, and launched a politically-motivated character assassination, Taiwanese officials said.
DPP Legislator Shen, who is also actively involved in the recall movement, also faced a smear campaign, targeting his father’s business, Sicuens International Co.
Earlier this month, pro-Beijing Hong Kong news outlet Ta Kung Pao called Shen an “anti-intellectual,” accused his father of infidelity and alleged his company was “profiteering from China-made merchandise” and “making red money.”
The TAO subsequently announced sanctions on Sicuens, spreading the narrative of “Taiwanese independence diehards,” inciting further criticism from Chinese state media, certain Taiwanese media and online influencers.
Political pundit Lee Cheng-hao (李正皓) was also physically attacked this month by members of the Heavenly Way Alliance (天道盟) gang, with security officials believing the incident was likely linked to his involvement in recall campaigns.
Prosecutors are currently investigating whether the CCP could be to blame for inciting Taiwanese organized crime networks, officials said.
This month has seen a series of isolated attacks against supporters of recall movements against KMT politicians.
They warned that the CCP is likely to continue deploying various tactics to undermine public support of the DPP’s recall movement.
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