Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has accused China of ramping up its efforts to infiltrate and influence the democratic island, pledging to take strong measures to counter Beijing’s attempts to “absorb” Taiwan. Speaking on March 13, President Lai condemned China for increasing military drills, imposing trade sanctions, and expanding its influence campaigns aimed at forcing Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty.
After meeting with senior security officials, President Lai addressed reporters, stating that Beijing had exploited Taiwan’s democracy to infiltrate various sectors of society. He claimed that China’s efforts targeted organized crime groups, media personalities, and both current and former military and police officers, seeking to divide, destroy, and subvert Taiwanese society from within.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
In a response to President Lai’s remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning asserted that no matter what the Taiwanese administration says, “it will not change the fact that Taiwan is part of China nor can it change the inevitable event of the reunification with the motherland.”
Citing government data, President Lai revealed that last year, 64 individuals were charged with espionage related to Chinese activities, a threefold increase compared to 2021. He noted that the majority of those charged were current or former military officials.
The ongoing tension between Taiwan and China has raised concerns about regional stability and security, with both sides continuing to assert competing claims over the island.
