“Beijing sponsors trips for Taiwanese politicians, raising concerns of election interference.”
According to Taiwan sources and documents, Beijing has organized budget-friendly trips to China for several Taiwanese politicians ahead of crucial elections on the island. This move has raised concerns among officials, with one calling it “election interference.” President Tsai Ing-wen and other Taiwanese figures have cautioned against China’s potential influence on voters, defining the upcoming Jan. 13 elections as pivotal in determining Taiwan’s relationship with China. However, the extent of China’s involvement had not been previously disclosed.
Beijing, which considers Taiwan its territory, has heightened pressure on the island, emphasizing the elections as a choice between “peace and war,” urging the Taiwanese populace to make the “right choice.” Taiwanese law prohibits election campaigns from receiving funds or support from “external hostile forces,” including China. Southern Taiwan prosecutors are currently investigating 22 individuals, including grassroots politicians, for potential violations of election and security laws.
Security agencies across Taiwan are scrutinizing over 400 recent visits to China, primarily led by local opinion leaders like borough chiefs and village heads. These trips, offering discounted accommodations, transportation, and meals, are believed to have been subsidized by units under China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, according to a Taiwan security official familiar with the investigations.
While the Chinese office did not respond to requests for comment, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council acknowledged Beijing’s attempts to influence Taiwan’s elections through sponsored trips. The council’s minister, Chiu Tai-san, indicated that Beijing is pushing for candidates favored by the Chinese Communist Party without elaborating further.
These trips, though participants cover their airfare, reportedly include subsidized expenses from Chinese authorities. Taiwanese officials see these sponsored trips as a form of election interference, specifically targeting influential politicians pivotal in shaping public opinion. Over 1,000 borough chiefs or village heads have participated in such trips this year, with Beijing concentrating on districts where support for pro-China candidates is strong.
Prosecutors in Kaohsiung city allege that five fully funded trips from there were orchestrated by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, with officials reportedly asking participants to support specific parties and oppose Taiwan independence. Prosecutor-General Hsing Tai-chao warned against foreign influences attempting to sway citizens and urged Taiwanese not to accept perks or instructions from Chinese authorities.
Despite government scrutiny prompting a more discreet approach among politicians regarding these trips, some individuals still arrange separate visits to China, adopting cautious measures to avoid attention. The difficulty lies in establishing financial ties to Chinese state agencies behind these tours, making it challenging to build criminal cases against participants. Taiwan has suspended group tours to China due to COVID-19, but individual visits remain unrestricted.
