Taiwan says that more stringent measures needed to counteract Chinese infiltration | Political news

Taiwanese President Lai Ching claims that China is deepening its “campaign for influence” on the island.

Taiwan President William Lai Ching says that China is deepening its spying and infiltration campaign against the island and that its government will propose various measures to counteract Beijing's efforts to “learn” Taiwan.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with security officers on Thursday, Lai said Beijing is trying to cultivate relations with members of Taiwanese society, including organized criminal groups, media figures and police officers.

“They (China) are doing activities such as division, destruction and trimming inside us,” Lai said.

He added that more stringent measures are needed to counteract Chinese efforts to weaken the island's defenses, citing the latest incidents that fall into a “gray zone” of a psychological war, except open-armed conflict.

Lai said, according to government data, 64 people were charged with Chinese espionage last year, three times more than 2021. He said the majority is current or former military officials.

“Many are worried that our country, the hard -to -win freedom and democracy and prosperity will be lost less due to these influences of campaigns and manipulation,” he said.

The president has proposed 17 legal and economic counteraction, including a strict review of visits to Taiwan or requests for residence by Chinese citizens, and proposals for the resumption of the military court's work.

Lai also said that his government would make “necessary corrections” of streams of money, people and technologies through the Strait. He has not developed.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of his territory, but the ruling democratic progressive party on the island supports factual independence from the continental part.

China denied almost all official contacts with DPP after LAI's predecessor, TSA-Wen tsportIt was selected eight years ago. The two sides split against the backdrop of a civil war in 1949.

Recent spies

Taiwan recently expelled the Chinese wife of a Taiwanese citizen after she published several social media videos, saying China would conquer Taiwan for half an hour and praise the Chinese leadership.

Such acts are illegal under the laws of Taiwan to maintain the enemy. A woman who also held official Chinese titles as a consultant can re -apply for a residence in five years.

Other recent incidents include Taiwanese artists and influential living in China who redirect statements from Chinese state media, defending Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan-something, which Taipei sees as a continuing campaign to press on pop stars to make pro-bejing comments.

Lai said his government would issue “reminders” to Taiwanese actors and singers performing in China by their “statements and actions”.

“We have no choice but to take more active action,” he said.

Retired members of the Taiwanese service have also delivered information about the weapons systems of the island of Chinese agents and seek to recruit military members as spies, he said.

China regularly sends ships and planes to airspace and leads to the island in an attempt to intimidate its 23 million people and wear its armed forces and morals.