Taipei (dpa) – In the tensions between China and Taiwan, the presidential candidate of the Taiwanese ruling party has accused Beijing of disrupting the ongoing election campaign. China has a history of interfering in elections in Taiwan, said William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party. “But this time it was the most serious.” Before the vote, China used military intimidation, economic pressure, psychological warfare and disinformation as a strategy.
More than 19 million people in Taiwan are called on this Saturday to elect a new president and a new parliament. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu accused China of using the island as a testing area. “If they manage to reshape the results of the Taiwan election, they will try to apply these tactics to other countries.” If China is so interested in playing with democratic elections, they should start holding their own democratic elections, the foreign minister said.
During Wu’s press conference, cell phone alerts about a satellite launched in China caused a stir, as English language referred to it as a “missile.” Taiwanese authorities later corrected this information. China is launching satellites into space more often.
Spy balloons over Taiwan
Since January 1, Taiwan’s military has detected 20 Chinese People’s Liberation Army balloons in its territory, in addition to fighter jets and warships, about half of which have flown over the island. Taiwanese politicians accused Beijing of wanting to spread fear before the elections.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not comment on the balloons. On Tuesday, a spokesman pointed out that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. The election is an internal Chinese matter. However, the island republic with more than 23 million inhabitants has had an independent government for decades. China’s state and party leader Xi Jinping is striving for reunification.
2024-01-09 17:09:02
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