Taiwan is gearing up for Presidential elections scheduled for January 13 next year. Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is up against Hou Yu-ih, the Taipei Mayor representing the Kuomintang and Ko Wen-jie of the Taiwan People\u2019s Party. Even as Taiwan\u2019s people get ready to make the choice the apprehension is that Beijing is targeting young Taiwanese to influence their vote.<\/p>\n
According to the Taiwan-based newspaper Taipei Times China is targeting young voters using the TikTok app. The report says that videos being shared on TikTok are aimed at propagating distrust in Taiwan\u2019s government and military. According to Taipei Times, China state-backed Global Times and other pro-establishment outlets have published reports critical of the ruling DPP and its leaders to generate a negative opinion about the party.<\/p>\n
The Taipei Times quoted sources as saying that \u201cThe Chinese Communist Party [CCP] has defined this election as a choice between \u2018war and peace\u2019 and continues to spread the threat of war through China\u2019s state media.\u201d \u201cPro-China candidates have even echoed these threats, claiming that a vote for the DPP is a vote to send young people to the battlefield. They are cooperating with the CCP to intimidate Taiwanese,\u201d the source added.<\/p>\n
The aim of these video is diverting the voters\u2019 attention toward parties that may seem favourable to closer ties with Beijing and generate a Pro-China sentiment among younger voters in Taiwan. The source quoted by Taipei Times said that \u201cThe CCP is also attempting to convince young Taiwanese that conscription means they are sacrificing their studies, careers and futures.\u201d \u201cChina basically intends to use cognitive warfare to foster negative views on the policies of the ruling party among young Taiwanese, all with an eye toward affecting the outcome of the election,\u201d the source further added.<\/p>\n
CNN reported that at a recent closed-door security briefing Taiwan\u2019s intelligence community warned that China had been working to influence Taiwan\u2019s upcoming election using disinformation. The goal of this was to bolster the chances of opposition candidates who are more likely to favour improving ties with Beijing. In Taiwan, Government employees are banned from using TikTok but there is no blanket ban on the App for citizens. The incumbent DPP is said to be leading in all opinion polls. The Taiwan election comes at a time when Tensions between China and Taiwan are high.<\/p>\n
\nTwo PRC\u2019s balloons were detected yesterday after crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait at the location 110 nautical miles NW of Keelung and altitude of approximately 27,000 feet. The balloons headed east and disappeared at 09:36 and 16:35 respectively.<\/p>\n
\u2014 \u570b\u9632\u90e8 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddfc (@MoNDefense) December 18, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n