Taiwan accuses China of AI-powered disinformation campaign

China has been spreading misinformation about Taiwan using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to divide the people of Taiwan, according to the National Security Bureau of the island.

In recent years, Taiwan has also accused Beijing of ramping up its influence operations, enforcing trade restrictions, and conducting military drills near the island—all efforts seen as attempts to pressure Taiwan into accepting China’s sovereignty claims.

Taiwan, however, continues to firmly reject Beijing’s assertions of sovereignty.

China uses AI in disinformation campaign to divide Taiwanese society

The United States and several of Taiwan’s allies expressed concern after China held two days of live-fire drills and war games close to the democratically governed island this month. Moreover, the situation had hit the headlines, sparking discussion as several reports were released trying to answer these questions.

The first report, which was submitted to parliament, revealed that as of this year, the security bureau had identified over half a million pieces of contentious messages, primarily from social media sites like Facebook and TikTok.

Furthermore, Beijing, China’s capital city, launched what the report called cognitive warfare, claiming that such efforts were designed to create division in society. Examples of such sensitive moments include President Lai Ching-te’s speech on China last month and chipmaker TSMC’s recent announcement of new U.S. investment.

Based on another report from sources, it was also discovered that the Chinese Communist Party had been using AI tools to help create and spread divisive messages as AI technology grew more common and developed to a high degree of complexity.

Additionally, things were becoming worse since China had also intensified its “grey-zone” tactics against Taiwan, as evidenced by the sharp rise in the Chinese Coast Guard’s sudden or brief attacks and air balloons in Taiwan’s airspace and waters so far this year.

In response to these actions, Taiwan exhausted its resources, and its own forces were compelled.

A request for comment from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office was not answered. On the other hand, the Taiwanese politician currently serving as the eighth president of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, earlier commented on the situation as he labeled China a foreign hostile force.

In addition, based on his argument, only Taiwan’s people have the right to decide their future. Despite this, China has never rejected using force to impose its will on Taiwan.

China’s actions against Taiwan to serve as warning against the island’s independence

On April 1, China further ratcheted up its pressure on Taiwan when it began military drills off the island’s eastern, southern, and northern coasts and called the Taiwanese president, Lai Ching-te, a “parasite.” The exercises were seen broadly as a message of deterrence against moves toward formal secession. Taiwan, in response, deployed its own warships to challenge Chinese naval forces approaching its coastlines.

Unlike last year’s more clearly flagged exercises, Beijing did not formally name the latest drills. The maneuvers followed mounting Chinese rhetoric aimed at President Lai. They coincided with a trip to Asia by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has been openly critical of Beijing’s activities.

According to a statement from China’s Eastern Theatre Command, the exercises were intended to “test forces’ coordination in combat” and used a combination of ships, aircraft, and artillery to simulate blockades, strikes on land and sea targets, and the interception of aerial threats.

This show of force followed a similar military display last May, three days after Lai took office when Chinese forces carried out live-fire missile exercises intended to replicate the conquest of areas west of the so-called first island chain.

Beijing has long branded Lai a “separatist” and regards Taiwan — a self-ruled democracy — as part of its territory. Portraying Lai in a provocative propaganda video released with its announcement, the Eastern Theatre Command showed him as a green bug perched on a flaming Taiwan, suspended only by a pair of chopsticks.

Taiwan’s government condemned the latest military maneuvers as “simply unnecessary.” The presidential office emphasized the island’s readiness and determination to defend its sovereignty and described China as a regional destabilizing force that is increasingly seen with concern by the international community.

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