China’s disinformation campaign targeting Taiwan has aimed to sow doubt about the US-Taiwan relationship and to drive a wedge between the two allies. The campaign, known as “Yimeilun” or US skepticism, has been spreading narratives that question the faithfulness of the US to Taiwan, portraying Taiwan as a pawn exploited by America. Chinese disinformation experts believe that China has a hand in spreading these messages and may even be creating them.
The disinformation campaign consists of various narratives that highlight news that portrays the US in a negative light or as an untrustworthy superpower. For example, when Taiwanese chip giant TSMC expanded in the US, it was described as American coercion and a “hollowing out” of Taiwan’s resources. The US’ arms sale to Taiwan was also criticized as “cheating” the island of its money by sending it unreliable weapons. These narratives of US skepticism have been discovered on Chinese-language media outlets, social media platforms, online forums, and messaging platforms.
One of the aims of the disinformation campaign is to convince the Taiwanese people that the US will not support Taiwan or will abandon it if there is a war or if the situation is not advantageous to the US. Experts believe that if the campaign can convince even a small percentage of voters, around 3%, it could affect the outcome of the presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan.
There are several factors contributing to the success of the disinformation campaign. First, tensions between Taiwan and China have increased, with Beijing repeatedly reinforcing unification as a goal and not ruling out the use of force. Second, faith in the US among the Taiwanese public is decreasing. Polls show that the Taiwanese still trust the US more than China, but the annual American Portrait survey conducted by Taiwanese academics found that last year only 34% of Taiwanese believe the US is a trustworthy country, compared to 45% in 2021. Additionally, younger Taiwanese, who are more likely to be sent to the frontlines in case of war, are particularly susceptible to US skepticism narratives.
The success of the disinformation campaign can also be attributed to America’s own actions, such as the disastrous troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and Congress’ reluctance to continue funding Ukraine in its war. These actions have contributed to Taiwanese fears that the US would abandon or fail to intervene if China attacks. US skepticism plays on these fears, mining something fundamental in the Taiwanese psyche – their decades-long insecurity about their relationship with America. This insecurity stems from Taiwan’s historical perspective as a colony of many empires, transferred numerous times by its previous rulers.
To counter the disinformation campaign, analysts suggest that American reassurances are the best antidote. It is important for the US to reiterate the benefits of the US-Taiwan partnership and to emphasize the good aspects of the relationship. Taiwan has also implemented various measures to defend against disinformation, including public education campaigns, reporting hotlines, and AI chatbots that identify fake news. However, China is expected to continue improving its methods of influencing discourse, posing a challenge for Taiwan’s defense against disinformation.
The disinformation campaign has polarized Taiwanese society and created a greater distrust of facts. People now evaluate the credibility of information based on their political views or party affiliation. The constant warnings from Taiwan’s government about Chinese influence and Beijing’s efforts to stigmatize criticism of China have also resulted in fatigue among ordinary Taiwanese. This has made it difficult to discuss China-related issues without some people questioning why the focus isn’t on America’s issues.
In conclusion, China’s disinformation campaign targeting Taiwan aims to sow doubt about the US-Taiwan relationship and weaken the alliance. The campaign employs narratives of US skepticism and portrays Taiwan as a pawn of America. To counter this campaign, American reassurances are crucial, and Taiwan is implementing various measures to defend against disinformation. However, China’s continuous efforts to influence discourse pose a challenge for Taiwan’s defense.
