United front in Taiwan explained

The united front in Taiwan is an aspect of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Government of China's larger united front strategy, applied to Taiwan, to achieve unification.[1] [2] It relies on the presence of pro-Beijing sympathizers in Taiwan combined with a carrot-and-stick approach of threatening war with Taiwan while offering opportunities for business and cultural exchanges.[3] [4] [5] According to officials of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, the CCP has long relied on organized crime as part of its united front tactics in Taiwan.[6] Critics who are negative of Chinese unification have linked the term "united front" to Chinese imperialism and expansionism.[7]

History

In 2011, Xi Jinping instructed cadres to "make full use" of Mazu for promotion of Chinese unification.[8] Temples in Taiwan, especially in rural areas, have been the most prominent targets for influence operations as they are meeting grounds for prominent local figures and financial donations to temples remain unregulated.[9] [10] [11]

Starting in 2017, the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots took on a more prominent role in the CCP's united front efforts directed at Taiwan.[12]

According to Sinologist Gerry Groot, the CCP's abrogation of one country, two systems in Hong Kong following the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests "was noted in Taiwan, where it made the work of the tiny minority of pro-unification activists even harder and reinforced the skepticism of others regarding the value of CCP promises."[13] Others have also perceived its failure to persuade Taiwanese.[14]

In 2022, Taiwan's National Security Bureau chief stated that the CCP had provided training to local internet celebrities in "cognitive warfare" campaigns to spread propaganda.[15]

In 2023, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council stated in a report that the CCP's united front efforts in Taiwan through "cognitive warfare" were increasing.[16]

During the run-up to the 2024 Taiwanese presidential election, the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots coordinated editorial attacks against Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, framing him as "pro-war"; Lai later won the election.[17] In November 2023, Taiwanese prosecutors charged a group of individuals accused of recruiting Taiwanese tourists on trips to mainland China paid for by the Taiwan Affairs Office in which they met with representatives of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) and were urged to vote for pan-Blue candidates.[18] [19] According to Reuters, around 1,000 Taiwanese local officials have visited China on paid junkets in the run-up to the 2024 elections.[20] In December 2023, Liberty Times reported that in 2023 around 30% of the 456 borough chiefs in Taipei had taken trips to mainland China subsidized by the Chinese government.[21]

Organizations

Two bureaus of the Ministry of State Security, the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations and the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, share intelligence collection and analysis on Taiwan.[22]

The UFWD sponsors paid trips and summer camps to mainland China for Taiwanese youth. The trips are reported to promote pro-Chinese unification sentiment.[23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cole. J. Michael. 2019-12-27. Taiwan and CCP political warfare: A blueprint. 2022-01-16. Sinopsis. en-US. 30 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191230154118/https://sinopsis.cz/en/taiwan-and-ccp-political-warfare-a-blueprint/. live.
  2. News: Hong. Brendon. 28 October 2020. China's Real Invasion of Taiwan Has Already Started. en. The Daily Beast. 29 October 2020. 28 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028190944/https://www.thedailybeast.com/chinas-real-invasion-of-taiwan-has-already-started-through-the-united-front. live.
  3. News: McCarthy . Simone . August 1, 2022 . 'Win hearts and minds' in Taiwan and Hong Kong, Xi urges Communist Party . 2022-08-01 . . 1 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220801175107/https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/01/china/china-xi-jinping-united-front-taiwan-hong-kong-intl-hnk-mic/index.html . live .
  4. Book: Tsang. Steve Yui-Sang. Democratization in Taiwan: Implications for China. Tien. Hung-mao. 1999. Macmillan. 978-0-333-73783-5. en. 4 November 2016. 27 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230827191423/https://books.google.com/books?id=vXPL13vLhmIC. live.
  5. News: Yu-fu. Chen. Chin. Jonathan. September 5, 2021. Beijing boosts influence drive: report. Taipei Times. September 5, 2021. 6 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210906025153/https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/09/05/2003763834. live.
  6. Web site: Cooper . Sam . Beijing uses organized crime to interfere in Taiwan's elections, and likely does in Canada: Taiwanese official . 2023-09-06 . www.thebureau.news . en . 13 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013144928/https://www.thebureau.news/p/beijing-uses-organized-crime-to-interfere . live .
  7. News: 2023-05-08 . Notes from Central Taiwan: Imaginings of another Taiwan . Today we know terms like “united front” in the context of Chinese imperialism and expansionism, but in the 1930s the term had another meaning: it encapsulated the desire of Asians struggling to form a “united front” against external imperialism. . . 30 April 2024 . 28 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230628142054/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2023/05/08/2003799356 . live .
  8. News: September 19, 2019 . China's atheist Communist Party encourages folk religion . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230616152424/https://www.economist.com/china/2019/09/19/chinas-atheist-communist-party-encourages-folk-religion . June 16, 2023 . 2023-06-16 . . 0013-0613 . In 2011 Mr Xi urged officials to "make full use" of Mazu to woo Taiwanese, most of whom have ancestral ties with the mainland..
  9. News: Pomfret . James . Lee . Yimou . December 21, 2023 . China wields Mazu 'peace goddess' religion as weapon in Taiwan election . December 21, 2023 . Reuters.
  10. News: Wong . Tessa . Chang . Joy . 2023-12-29 . The worshippers caught between China and Taiwan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231230175438/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67779220 . December 30, 2023 . 2023-12-30 . . en-GB.
  11. News: 10 January 2024 . China targets Taiwan's temples, Matsu worshippers in influence ops . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240111044835/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/taiwan-goddess-01102024103041.html . January 11, 2024 . 11 January 2024 . Radio Free Asia.
  12. Web site: 2017-05-07 . Civilian group from mainland China to take more prominent role in cross-strait affairs . 2023-08-27 . . en . 15 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230515024912/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2093280/civilian-group-mainland-china-take-more-prominent-role . live .
  13. News: Groot . Gerry . October 19, 2022 . The Life and Death of United Front Promises From Revolution to (Re)-Unification Past, Present and Future . China Brief . . October 19, 2022 . 19 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221019235908/https://jamestown.org/program/the-life-and-death-of-united-front-promises-from-revolution-to-re-unification-past-present-and-future/ . live .
  14. News: Purbrick . Martin . April 12, 2023 . United Front Work and Beyond: How the Chinese Communist Party Penetrates the United States and Western Societies . en-US . . 2023-04-15 . 15 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415213234/https://jamestown.org/program/united-front-work-and-beyond-how-the-chinese-communist-party-penetrates-the-united-states-and-western-societies/ . live .
  15. News: Some Taiwanese Youtubers on CCP payroll: intelligence chief . 2022-05-17 . . en-US . 17 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517073147/https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202205160007 . live .
  16. News: 2023-05-16 . China to increase 'united front' efforts: MAC report . 2023-05-19 . . 5 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605132037/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/05/16/2003799875 . live .
  17. Web site: China-Taiwan Weekly Update, July 27, 2023 . 2023-08-27 . Critical Threats . . 29 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230729002233/https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/china-taiwan-weekly-update-july-27-2023 . live .
  18. Web site: Shan . Shelley . 2023-11-29 . Suspects running China-funded tours . 2023-12-02 . . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203031151/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/11/29/2003809860 . live .
  19. Web site: 2023-12-27 . First charge laid over China voter tours . 2023-12-28 . . 14 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240114192547/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/12/27/2003811211 . live .
  20. Web site: Chinese interference 'looms large' over Taiwan's presidential poll . 2023-12-06 . . en . 22 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240122203916/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/taiwan-election-interference-12052023123001.html . live .
  21. News: Hioe . Brian . 7 December 2023 . Subsidized trips for borough chiefs and constituents to travel to China comes under scrutiny . New Bloom . 7 December 2023 . 7 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180741/https://newbloommag.net/2023/12/06/borough-chiefs-united-front/ . live .
  22. Web site: Hsiao . Russell . 2023-08-23 . Personnel Changes at the PRC's Organs for Taiwan Intelligence Analysis . 2023-09-04 . Global Taiwan Institute . en-US . 3 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231103232809/https://globaltaiwan.org/2023/08/personnel-changes-at-the-prcs-organs-for-taiwan-intelligence-analysis/ . live .
  23. News: July 11, 2024 . Songs, pandas and praise for Xi: how China courts young Taiwanese . subscription . 2024-07-12 . . 0013-0613 . 11 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711232322/https://www.economist.com/china/2024/07/11/songs-pandas-and-praise-for-xi-how-china-courts-young-taiwanese . live .

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