Taipei, April 7: China is gearing up to interfere in Taiwan’s upcoming ‘Nine-in-One’ local elections scheduled for November. According to a report, cyber attacks on Taiwan’s Government Service Network (GSN) are anticipated. This information was disclosed by local media, referencing a report from the National Security Bureau.
The Taipei Times reported that this report was submitted to the Legislative Yuan ahead of a briefing by the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee last week.
The report highlights China’s efforts in “cognitive warfare,” aimed at influencing public opinion and perceptions. The Bureau indicated that the national security team has identified approximately 13,000 suspicious internet accounts and over 860,000 controversial messages.
Most of these messages spread false or misleading information regarding foreign affairs, defense, and economic issues. It was noted that these were generated with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and disseminated through Chinese state media, internet trolls, suspicious accounts, and content farms.
The Bureau reported that in the first quarter of 2026, there were over 173.28 million cyber attacks on the GSN. These attacks are believed to be part of an effort to interfere in the elections, aimed at gathering information, monitoring, and stealing data.
The report states that China plans to adopt a ‘hybrid’ approach to influence the elections at the end of the year. This may include spreading AI-generated deepfake videos, issuing fake surveys, and establishing illegal betting networks.
Additionally, China may invite tour groups to visit and cover their expenses to sway public opinion in its favor, as well as purchase agricultural products from regions considered supportive of its agenda.
According to the report, Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s airspace over 420 times in the first quarter of 2026. These activities were conducted in conjunction with the Chinese Navy, including ten ‘Joint Combat Readiness Patrols’ aimed at testing military preparedness against Taiwan.
Furthermore, the report noted that Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered the restricted waters of Kinmen County 44 times in 2025 and 12 times in the first quarter of 2026. During these operations, the vessels deliberately turned off their tracking systems (AIS) to test Taiwan’s monitoring and response capabilities.
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