Taiwan vigilantly counters China's disinformation onslaught ahead of crucial election

Taipei [Taiwan], December 16 : Taiwan is grappling with a surge of disinformation from China in the run-up to a critical election, prompting robust efforts to counter false narratives, CNN reported.
As Covid-19 misinformation circulated, Taiwanese fact-checking applications, including Auntie Meiyu, gained prominence. These apps, crucial for debunking rumours, are particularly significant as the island braces for a pivotal election.
With a population of 23.5 million, Taiwan is facing escalating pressure from China, both militarily and politically. The upcoming election has heightened tensions, with Beijing allegedly employing disinformation campaigns, military operations, and economic pressure to influence the political landscape. Taiwan's intelligence community expresses concerns about China's efforts to support opposition candidates favouring closer ties with Beijing, as reported by CNN.
China's tactics involve cognitive warfare operations, utilising disinformation spread through content farms, fake social media accounts, and collaboration with private companies to manipulate narratives. Beyond spreading rumours, China has reportedly pressured Taiwanese businesses and attempted to influence politicians through discounted trips to mainland cities.
The importance of fact-checking mechanisms has become even more evident, with Taiwan topping the list for receiving the highest amount of disinformation from external sources for the 10th consecutive year. Threats extend beyond election interference, with Taiwan investigating a potential "false flag" operation where China may use disinformation as a pretext for military action.
Amid the disinformation landscape, fact-checking organisations like the Taiwan FactCheck Centre and innovative tools like Auntie Meiyu play a crucial role in empowering citizens to discern accurate information. Media literacy is emphasised as a key component in combating the circulation of false information online, as reported by CNN.
As Taiwan faces complex geopolitical challenges, the battle against disinformation becomes a critical aspect of preserving the integrity of its democracy. The upcoming election serves as a pivotal moment, and the island nation remains vigilant in countering external influences seeking to shape its political landscape.
In the words of Chen Pei-huang, a senior journalist at the Taiwan FactCheck Centre, "For us, besides simply fact-checking a piece of information, we think it is important to promote media literacy... because if most people have the ability to question the authenticity of a piece of information, then it will be harder for rumours to circulate."
The unique challenge Taiwan faces is highlighted by Hsieh from Taoyuan City, whose elderly relatives, after encountering Auntie Meiyu's warnings of misleading information, now feel embarrassed. She notes that they have learned not to forward every message without considering its truthfulness.
While the threat of disinformation looms large, the resolve to combat false narratives and safeguard Taiwan's democracy remains steadfast, CNN reported.