Taiwanese scholars warned that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) election interference is designed not only to influence individual races but also to deepen political divisions and undermine confidence in democracy. The warnings came at an Oct. 19 forum hosted by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as Taiwan prepares for local elections on Nov. 28.
The forum, “China’s Election Interference, Social Infiltration and Democratic Defense,” brought together University of St. Thomas professor Yeh Yao-yuan, Shih Hsin University professor Liu Yu-hsi, and Asia-Pacific Elite Interchange Association secretary-general Wang Chih-sheng, according to the DPP’s account of the event.
Military pressure and information warfare
Yeh identified two principal methods of Chinese pressure: military intimidation, including aircraft crossing the Taiwan Strait’s median line and drills around the island, and information operations intended to shape voters’ perceptions. He said Beijing seeks both to benefit candidates more receptive to closer ties with China and to discredit opponents of its policies.
As one example, Yeh pointed to allegations circulated by pro-Beijing Hong Kong media concerning the business activities of the father of Shen Po-yang, the DPP candidate for Taipei mayor. Yeh argued that such reports can be amplified through social media and AI-generated news formats, giving contested claims a veneer of credibility. Shen has disputed the allegations about his father, according to a separate Central News Agency report.
DPP Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung warned that AI-assisted disinformation can mix material that is “30 percent true and 70 percent false.” Yeh urged voters to “ask about the source and purpose” of suspicious messages rather than sharing them uncritically.
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The concern extends beyond Taiwan. A 2024 U.S. intelligence assessment said China was seeking to influence congressional contests involving candidates Beijing regarded as threats to its interests, particularly those connected to Taiwan. Yeh also cited the White House’s July 2026 allegation that China had obtained as many as 220 million U.S. voter records. That allegation is disputed in scope: election specialists note that much voter-registration information is publicly available, and the disclosure did not establish that Chinese actors altered votes or election results.
AI deepfakes and impersonation
Liu said Chinese influence tactics are shifting from costly in-person exchanges and cultivation of local contacts toward cheaper, scalable online campaigns. Generative AI can produce misleading text, images, audio, deepfake videos and realistic-looking accounts, allowing disinformation to circulate quickly across platforms.
She argued that the objective has expanded beyond making particular candidates win or lose. Repeated provocation, she said, can leave people believing that “democratic institutions cannot be trusted” and that political “dialogue is impossible.” Her examples included accounts posing as members of opposing political camps to inflame disputes, as well as misleading AI-generated graphics connected to local candidates.
Liu cautioned that messages appearing to oppose Beijing can also be part of an effort to heighten distrust. She advised people who encounter especially inflammatory claims to pause and verify them before sharing. In remarks reported by Mirror Media, her central instruction was to “stop and do not forward it,” even when a message appears to support one’s own position.
Grassroots networks and legal safeguards
Wang said Beijing’s campaign against Taiwan differs from interference elsewhere because, in his assessment, its ultimate aim is to extinguish Taiwan’s sovereignty and annex the island. He described a move toward “precision election interference” that exploits the openness of local elections and community organizations.
According to the DPP’s published summary of Wang’s remarks, Beijing seeks to develop “local collaborators” through temples, grassroots groups and community associations. Wang characterized the resulting networks as a possible model for “patriots governing Taiwan” and said the 2026 local elections could serve as a testing ground for Taiwan’s 2028 national elections. He also cited pressure on Taiwanese businesses and sanctions against lawmakers and relatives as forms of intimidation.
Wang urged stronger laws covering financial flows, cross-border exchanges and information channels. The DPP also called for better media literacy and more effective verification of AI-generated content. Party China Affairs Director Wu Jun-zhi recommended cross-checking questionable claims against reliable sources and discussing them with others before accepting or sharing them.
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