(C) Washington Times

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan’s top intelligence agency has issued a stark warning regarding China’s escalating "cognitive warfare" tactics, revealing a significant spike in suspicious social media accounts and AI-driven disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing the island's democratic society.

According to a report titled "Analysis of China’s Cognitive Warfare Tactics Against Taiwan in 2025" released by the National Security Bureau (NSB) on January 11, Beijing is increasingly leveraging anonymity and advanced technology to manipulate public opinion and weaken Taiwan’s resistance.

The Surge in Digital Manipulation

The NSB’s data paints a concerning picture of the digital battlefield. In 2025, the number of "abnormal accounts"—those suspected of being part of coordinated influence operations—reached 45,590, marking a 61% increase from the 28,216 accounts identified in 2024. Furthermore, the volume of controversial or misleading messages flagged by the agency rose to over 2.31 million, up from approximately 2.16 million the previous year.

Intelligence officials noted that China is now utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data to refine its strategies. These efforts often target President Lai Ching-te’s administration, aiming to devalue the military capabilities of both Taiwan and the United States while fostering internal divisions within the island.

Strategic Goals: Erosion of Will and Alliance

The report emphasizes that Beijing’s ultimate objective is to achieve "reunification" by eroding the Taiwanese people's will to resist and sowing doubt about the reliability of international allies. By spreading disinformation, China seeks to incite domestic polarization and influence global perceptions to favor its territorial claims.

"Taiwan stands at the front line of global efforts to counter these cognitive threats," the NSB stated. The agency highlighted that it has participated in over 80 security dialogues and collaborative projects with international allies since 2025 to exchange technical expertise and develop countermeasures against public opinion manipulation.

Data Privacy as a National Security Risk

The warning extends beyond disinformation to the platforms themselves. The NSB previously identified that popular Chinese apps—such as Xiaohongshu, Weibo, Douyin (TikTok), and WeChat—excessively collect sensitive user data, including facial recognition patterns, location history, and contact lists.

Under China’s National Intelligence Law and Cyber Security Law, these companies can be compelled to provide user data to state security organs. This raises concerns that the personal information of Taiwanese citizens could be harvested for intelligence purposes. In response, Taiwan’s All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency recently issued safety guides warning against the use of Chinese apps and electronic devices due to inherent information security risks.

As the digital gray-zone pressure from Beijing intensifies, Taiwan continues to expand its "global democratic cooperation network" to safeguard its information integrity and national security.