The Chinese Communist Party likes to punch you in the face while screaming “We are not punching you!” In response to Taiwan’s charges that China is working harder than ever to interfere with Taiwanese elections, China professes innocence, Reuters reports (“China piles pressure on Taiwan ahead of election,” January 9, 2024):
China has cast the election as a choice between war and peace, and says interference allegations are “dirty tricks” from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to try and win support.
The DPP’s presidential candidate Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday he would maintain the status quo and pursue peace through strength if elected, remaining open to engagement with Beijing under the preconditions of equality and dignity.
Beijing has denounced him as a separatist and warned that any attempt to push for Taiwan’s formal independence means conflict….
On Tuesday evening, China’s commerce ministry said it was looking into further measures to suspend tariff concessions on products including agriculture and fishery, machinery, auto parts and textiles from Taiwan, following up on such a move made against some petrochemical products last month….
Taiwan has continued to complain since last month of Chinese balloons flying over the sensitive Taiwan Strait, some of which have crossed the island, in what its defence ministry has called an effort at psychological warfare, though not directly saying they are for spying purposes.
In addition to propaganda, spy balloons, and economic sanctions, China’s attempts at swaying the January 13 election in its favor include bribing Taiwanese officials and conducting military exercises in the Taiwan Strait to threaten blockade or invasion of Taiwan.
Also see:
StopTheChinazis.org: “Taiwan Is ‘Hyping Up’ the Military Threat of Angry China”
“When China wants to crush you, just let yourself be crushed and leave it at that, is China’s theory; don’t ‘stoke confrontation’ by resisting.”
