Taiwan Intensifies Measures Against Chinese Espionage and Influence Campaigns
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te announced stronger measures to combat China’s espionage and influence efforts. He highlighted concerns over internal subversion and proposed 17 countermeasures, including stricter controls on Chinese visitors and the reactivation of military courts. Recent incidents, including legal actions against pro-Beijing sentiments, emphasize the urgency of these measures as tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has announced that the government will implement tougher measures to combat China’s escalating espionage efforts and influence campaigns on the island. After a security meeting, Lai indicated that China is attempting to form ties within Taiwanese society, including engaging with organized crime, media figures, and law enforcement officers.
In his remarks, Lai noted that Chinese activities aim to create division and subversion from within Taiwan. He emphasized the necessity for stronger defenses against these covert operations, pointing to incidents that constitute psychological warfare short of open conflict. Recent government data revealed a significant increase in espionage charges, with 64 individuals charged last year, a figure that is triple that of 2021, predominantly involving military personnel.
The president articulated concerns that the ongoing influence campaigns might gradually erode the hard-fought freedom, democracy, and prosperity of Taiwan. To address these threats, he proposed 17 legal and economic countermeasures, which include strict reviews of Chinese visitors and residency applications, as well as plans to reactivate military courts.
Lai further detailed that adjustments would be made regarding the flow of money, people, and technology across the Taiwan Strait, although specifics were not provided. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan advocates for continued independence from China, which views the island as part of its territory. Since Lai’s predecessor Tsai Ing-wen took office, official dialogues between Beijing and the DPP have been virtually non-existent.
Recent tensions have also included Taiwan’s expulsion of a Chinese woman for unlawfully endorsing China’s potential conquest of Taiwan. This incident highlighted Taiwan’s legal stance against aiding adversaries. Moreover, Taiwanese diaspora in China have been scrutinized for disseminating pro-Beijing sentiments, raising concerns about sovereignty. Lai announced that the government would remind Taiwanese performers working in China to be cautious regarding their statements and actions.
The situation is further aggravated by reports of retired Taiwanese military personnel leaking sensitive information to Chinese agents and efforts to recruit active service members. Meanwhile, China continues to send military vessels and aircraft near Taiwan’s waters and airspace, aiming to undermine the morale of the island’s citizens and its defense forces.
In summary, Taiwan is intensifying measures to counteract Chinese infiltration amid rising concerns over espionage and influence campaigns. President Lai Ching-te emphasizes the importance of safeguarding Taiwan’s democratic values and national security through proposed legal and economic strategies. With significant increases in espionage arrests and ongoing psychological warfare from China, the Taiwanese government is poised to take proactive steps to protect its sovereignty and integrity.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
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