Taiwan’s government believes China is set to renew a charm offensive targeting “opinion leaders” to win hearts and minds as the island gears up for a presidential election in less than a year, a security agency said in an internal report.
TAIPEI, Taiwan –
“The Chinese Communist Party is developing its exchange programs with Taiwan for the year. Various Taiwan-related agencies will gradually resume their invitations to Taiwan people on all levels to visit the mainland,” the agency said in the February report, citing intelligence information. China, which has never renounced the use of force to gain control of what it calls its “sacred” territory, has over recent years ramped up pressure on Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty, including the staging of regular military exercises near the island.
“The exchange programs may come in the name of sports, culture or commerce, but what we are worried about is what’s being said privately,” the official said.The report did not single out an individuals or parties that Taiwan believes could be targeted in the campaign but Beijing has long-standing contacts with the main opposition party, the Kuomintang or KMT, which traditionally favors close ties with China, but strongly denies being pro-Beijing.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Taiwan says 25 Chinese planes, 3 warships sent toward island | Associated PressTAIPEI, Taiwan—China sent 25 warplanes and three warships toward Taiwan on Wednesday morning, the island’s Defense Ministry said, as tensions remain high between Beijing and Taipei’s main backer Washington. The ministry said 19 of those planes crossed into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone while the ships were continuing to operate…
Read more »
Taiwan military to get $619-million US arms boost as China keeps up pressureThe arms sales to Taiwan are likely to further sour already tense ties between Washington and Beijing, which has repeatedly demanded such deals stop.
Read more »
Taiwan military to get $619 million US arms boost as China keeps up pressureThe United States has approved the potential sale of $619 million in new weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for its F-16 fleet, as the island reported a second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions nearby. | Reuters
Read more »
Putting the ball in Beijing’s court | BusinessMirror'Appeasement.” That’s the name given to Britain’s policy of allowing Hitler to expand German territory unchecked in the 1930s. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed he could avoid war through the use of negotiation, agreements and diplomacy. His appeasement policy meant giving in to Hitler’s territorial demands. Chamberlain signed the…
Read more »
Moscow, Beijing blast Western ‘blackmail and threats’ at G20 —statementRussia and China on Thursday criticized the West for employing "blackmail and threats" against other countries, Moscow said following a meeting of the two countries&39; foreign ministers at the G20.
Read more »
Taiwan reports second day of large Chinese incursion into its air defense zoneTaiwan's defense ministry says the aircraft, 17 J-10 fighters and four J-16 fighters, had flown into the southwestern corner of Taiwan's air defense identification zone.
Read more »