Under Xi’s rule the PRC has ramped up intimidatory and coercive actions against Taiwan, with the aim of eventual annexation.
In 2017 Taiwan’s government estimated there were more than 5,000 spies working for China in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s defence minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, said the Beijing intelligence service’s attempts to recruit Taiwanese people had been “considerable”.
It runs extensive grey-zone military activities, cyber, economic and cognitive warfare. Beneath all that is an apparently extensive and well-resourced network of spies and agents of influence seeking to steal secrets, gather intelligence, sow discord and undermine Taiwan’s democracy from within.
“There is no doubt that China is always trying various ways to damage Taiwan and look for any kind of intel that would benefit them,” says Liu. “But also Taiwan is trying very hard to arrest these people. It’s a race against time, and these cases being reported show that the threat is still real.”
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