Treadstone 71’s Post

Chinese Influence Operations and Election Interference in Taiwan 12172023 The first report looks at the evolving landscape of Chinese influence operations to interfere with Taiwan's elections. It analyzes past and current tactics, techniques, and potential scenarios China employs to sway electoral outcomes and public opinion in Taiwan. The brief begins by identifying key tactics used by Beijing, including intensified disinformation campaigns that portray Taiwan as facing imminent war risks and attacks on Taiwan's government, accusing it of restricting freedom of speech. It also highlights the strategic weaving of false narratives through fake personal accounts and the spread of disinformation via online discussions and fabricated articles. The second report covers the intricacies of the division of labor between official media outlets tasked with disseminating positive propaganda and non-official sources, which adopt a more aggressive tone. The strategic alignment of messaging serves as a testament to the CCP's global aspirations in shaping a favorable information environment. Moreover, we look at the intricacies of the CCP-driven disinformation campaigns, focusing on Taiwan and the United States. These campaigns are designed to erode trust and propagate China's unification narrative. The report discloses the nature of China's information warfare, characterized by the adept utilization of positive and negative messaging strategies. These strategies are harnessed to influence public opinion, both domestically within Taiwan and on an international scale. The report sheds light on the pattern of Chinese interference in Taiwanese elections. This interference transcends conventional boundaries of political influence, posing a direct challenge to the integrity of the electoral process. The analysis draws from authoritative sources and reporting, providing invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of Chinese electoral interference in Taiwan. These findings underscore the pressing need for heightened vigilance and robust countermeasures to safeguard the democratic principles that underpin Taiwanese elections. https://lnkd.in/gVaxTgPV

Chinese Election Interference in Taiwan Part 2 The report covers the intricacies of the division of labor between official media outlets tasked with disseminating positive propaganda and non-official sources, which adopt a more aggressive tone. The strategic alignment of messaging serves as a testament to the CCP's global aspirations in shaping a favorable information environment. Moreover, we look at the intricacies of the CCP-driven disinformation campaigns, focusing on Taiwan and the United States. These campaigns are designed to erode trust and propagate China's unification narrative. The report discloses the nature of China's information warfare, characterized by the adept utilization of positive and negative messaging strategies. These strategies are harnessed to influence public opinion, both domestically within Taiwan and on an international scale. The report sheds light on the pattern of Chinese interference in Taiwanese elections. This interference transcends conventional boundaries of political influence, posing a direct challenge to the integrity of the electoral process. The analysis draws from authoritative sources and reporting, providing invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of Chinese electoral interference in Taiwan. These findings underscore the pressing need for heightened vigilance and robust countermeasures to safeguard the democratic principles that underpin Taiwanese elections. https://lnkd.in/exkg8GT9

📣New Publication: "2024 Russian Presidential Elections – How Digital Technologies Are Used to Wield Authoritarian Power" Our lab members Daria Dergacheva and Vasilisa Kuznetsova contributed to the Oxford 2024 Election Initiative by co-authoring a blogpost together with other researchers from the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, sharing their insights on how digital technologies can be used to wield authoritarian power in the context of the Russian election. 🔹 Vladimir Putin was campaigning for his fifth presidential term, it was widely expected that he would win, what he did. 🔹 This is the result of a repressive, coercive, and propaganda-fuelled environment that has operated for decades. 🔹 Amid the war with Ukraine, the regime has been aggressively cracking down on the opposition, eradicating any kind of public criticism of the country’s foreign and domestic policies. 🔹 Digital technologies seem very fruitful tools in controlling information and election process. 🔹 It is highly possible that the online voting system results could be forged as the system is far from transparent. 🔹 The use of internet shutdowns and surveillance measures by the Russian state to inhibit free speech and opposition during election periods is pervasive and well-documented. 👉To the post: https://lnkd.in/d-Vb7qYm

Ahead of tomorrow's pivotal elections in Taiwan, I'm reposting my first article with German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Alliance for Securing Democracy from last month. "Taiwan’s efforts to fortify its own electoral integrity, and the lessons it will learn in the coming weeks, should provide a blueprint for all the year’s upcoming elections." https://lnkd.in/edeJwJPR

Check out my latest article in Taiwan Research Hub (TRH)’s Taiwan Insight on the history of Hong Kong influence on the elections and politics of Taiwan! This publication will not be possible without Adrian Chiu (the editor)’s great help! https://lnkd.in/gPi2ktCk

I spoke to KTRH Radio in Houston about Russian active measures waged against the U.S. in our elections. What is the goal of such efforts? Do they even work? How should voters think about this? Listen to the interview to hear my thoughts. The Kremlin has long attempted to interfere in elections around the world, sowing chaos and distrust in local populations. They have long pursued a political warfare and propaganda strategy that at times can make a marginal impact, and other times can topple governments in small or troubled countries. But have these active measures campaigns made an impact in American elections? Are voters persuaded by the bots and operatives that drive a Kremlin-backed narrative? It's hard to measure, but when you consider the cacophony of political messages that voters are exposed to, I would not say that such campaigns are determinative. But the main goal of the Kremlin is to sow discord, resentment, and chaos, and to divide the American people against themselves. (We are already doing a pretty good job of that ourselves) Russia, China, and Iran will continue to attempt to interfere in our elections, but I think we are strong enough, and smart enough, to withstand these often haphazard and comical attacks. Either way, voters should be discerning when it comes to news consumption, and should maintain a healthy does of skepticism when it comes to what we read online.

US lawmakers visit Taiwan following island's elections. Representatives Ami Bera and Mario Daz-Balart aim to strengthen US support for Taiwan and explore opportunities to further strengthen economic and defense relationships. The visit comes after Nauru severed ties with Taiwan and switched allegiance to Beijing. Only 12 states, including the Holy See, now formally recognize Taiwan. #AsiaRisk #ShiftingGeopoliticalAlliances #China Follow us for daily updates on risk and operations in Asia! https://lnkd.in/geUcwxfD

In the latest ASD blog, Laura Thornton & David Salvo dive into the consequences of Eastern European elections and their impact on democracy and the War in Ukraine. The choices voters make in 2024 will shape the region's future.

The Taiwan election result will significantly shape the geo-political tensions within the Indo-Pacific Region, particularly trade within the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. The three parties contesting the election, (the DPP, TPP and KMT), appear to have equal levels of support. It also appears that the KMT is the only party favoring increased trade relations with China. China's interference and ongoing attempts to influence to the election result are of concern. Taiwan elections: 5 things to know about the stakes, stances and system

Leading up to Taiwan’s elections on January 13, China used a wide range of tactics aimed at swaying Taiwanese voters away from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and toward its preferred Kuomintang (KMT) party. While the DPP prevailed, Beijing will likely continue its pressure campaign in the years to come. In a new analysis, our Naiyu Kuo and Jennifer Staats discuss China’s use of bottom-up and top-down tactics to shape Taiwan’s political outcomes: