Taiwan is getting ready for its presidential elections on January 13 next year. The main contenders are Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Hou Yu-ih, representing the Kuomintan, and Ko Wen-jie from the Taiwan People’s Party. However, there’s concern that Beijing is trying to influence young Taiwanese voters, particularly through the TikTok app.
According to the Taipei Times, China is using TikTok to share videos that aim to create distrust in Taiwan’s government and military. Chinese state-backed media like Global Times are also publishing reports critical of the ruling DPP to generate a negative opinion about the party. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has framed the election as a choice between ‘war and peace,’ spreading the threat of war through state media. Pro-China candidates are echoing these threats, suggesting that voting for the DPP is akin to sending young people to the battlefield, cooperating with the CCP to intimidate Taiwanese.
The videos on TikTok are designed to divert attention toward parties that seem more favorable to closer ties with Beijing, fostering a pro-China sentiment among younger voters. The CCP is also trying to convince young Taiwanese that conscription means sacrificing their studies, careers, and futures. Essentially, China is using cognitive warfare to create negative views on the ruling party’s policies among young Taiwanese with the goal of influencing the election outcome.
Taiwan’s intelligence community, in a closed-door security briefing, warned that China is actively working to influence the upcoming election using disinformation. The objective is to improve the chances of opposition candidates who are more likely to favor closer ties with Beijing. Despite the ban on government employees using TikTok, there’s no blanket ban on the app for citizens.
As tensions between China and Taiwan rise, the incumbent DPP is leading in all opinion polls. Recent incidents reported by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry include PLA aircraft entering Taiwan’s airspace, along with two Chinese balloons. These actions add to the overall tension in the region.
Comments