Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has raised concerns about China’s increasing espionage and infiltration activities on the island. He accuses Beijing of trying to establish relationships with various sectors of Taiwanese society, including organised crime groups, media personalities, and police officers. President Lai believes that China is attempting to weaken Taiwan’s defences through psychological warfare tactics and espionage efforts.
Lai has proposed 17 legal and economic countermeasures to counter China’s influence campaign, including stricter reviews of visits and residency applications by Chinese citizens and potential adjustments to the flow of money, people, and technology between Taiwan and China. He also plans to resume the work of the military court to address Chinese espionage activities.
Recent incidents involving Chinese individuals promoting Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan have raised further concerns in Taiwan. Chinese artists and influencers living in China have reposted statements asserting Chinese ownership of Taiwan, leading President Lai to issue warnings to Taiwanese entertainers performing in China.
Additionally, retired Taiwanese service members have been passing information about Taiwan’s weapons systems to Chinese agents, and there have been attempts to recruit serving military members as spies. China has also been increasing its military presence near Taiwan, sending ships and planes into Taiwanese airspace and waters to intimidate the island’s population.
President Lai’s comments come amid tensions between Taiwan and China, with Beijing viewing Taiwan as part of its territory while Taiwanese authorities lean towards de facto independence. The lack of official contact between China and Taiwan has further exacerbated the situation, with Taiwan taking a more proactive stance against China’s influence campaigns and espionage activities.
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