Taiwan Elections: In a pre-election media briefing in Taipei City, Taiwans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaushieh Joseph Wu, urged the international community to unite against Chinas escalating interference in democratic nations elections. Highlighting the urgency, Minister Wu outlined Chinas tactics and called for a collaborative effort to thwart its attempts.Chinas Election Interference TacticsMinister Wu emphasised that Taiwan is experiencing Chinas election interference firsthand and warned that the nation is being used as a testing ground for such interventions. He provided insights into Chinas diverse interference methods, including military threats, political propaganda, economic coercion, and cyber and disinformation warfare. The goal is to manipulate public opinion by framing elections as choices between war, peace, and prosperity.Global Concerns and Potential Influence on 2024 ElectionsExpressing concerns over the potential global impact, Minister Wu, with over 40 democratic elections scheduled in 2024, feared that China might leverage its experience from meddling in Taiwans elections to influence other democratic nations.Call for Global CollaborationMinister Wu called for global collaboration to counter Chinas interference in election processes worldwide. He stressed the importance of awareness and prevention, urging nations to unite against the manipulation of public opinion during elections.Open to Dialogue but Facing Persistent TacticsWhile expressing Taiwans openness to peaceful dialogue with China on non-political preconditions, Minister Wu highlighted Chinas persistent use of grey zone tactics. He underlined that, irrespective of election outcomes, both Taiwan and the international community share a consensus on maintaining cross-strait peace and stability.Economic Impact and Taiwans Market FocusAddressing the economic aspect of the elections, Minister Wu reiterated Taiwans commitment to market mechanisms. He highlighted the shift in Taiwanese investments away from China, resulting in a significant decrease from its peak of 80% to around 10%. Simultaneously, Taiwan has actively strengthened economic and trade relations with other nations through corporate investments, factory establishments, and bilateral agreements.
