On Sunday, the Taiwanese government took an unexpected step in the information war with mainland China. The island's National Security Bureau launched a special website aimed at encouraging citizens of the PRC to pass on intelligence. The initiative is directed at those who, according to Taiwanese authorities, are tired of the current political system and ready for change.
Economic difficulties and strict control
In a statement published on the new resource, Taiwan's National Security Bureau states that China's economy has been facing growing difficulties in recent years. Experts from the agency note that political control remains 'strict', and social problems related to livelihood are accumulating. According to the authors of the statement, these conditions provoke public discontent, as a result of which more and more people are turning to Taiwanese agencies with various information.
AI video and call to action
To attract attention, a one-minute video generated by artificial intelligence has been posted on the website. The video shows a Chinese civil servant watching his colleagues being fired — a metaphor for instability within the system. The Taiwanese bureau calls on Chinese citizens both inside the country and abroad to 'actively provide information and boldly pursue change'.
The channel is positioned as a way to expand sources of intelligence for the bureau. This new tactic, according to officials, follows the example of US, UK, and Israeli agencies, which also use similar mechanisms to collect data from abroad.
Blocking and access via VPN
At the moment, the website is blocked in China, but access to it is possible via VPN. As Reuters notes, many Chinese people already use this tool to access Western social networks and search engines, which makes the channel potentially effective.
Beijing's countermeasures and the context of the confrontation
Earlier, in 2024, China tried to apply a similar tactic: Beijing announced the creation of an email address where citizens could report crimes committed by Taiwanese 'separatists'. This became part of an information campaign against the island.
China considers self-governing Taiwan its territory, while Taipei categorically denies this. Against the backdrop of the growing threat from the mainland, Taiwan is increasingly thinking about its own security. In particular, the island is trying to adopt the Ukrainian experience in resisting a large aggressor.
Military exercises and show of force
Recently, Taiwan conducted military exercises during which missiles were launched towards China. This was a demonstration of how the island could try to repel an attack if it occurs. The launch of the website for collecting intelligence can be seen as a continuation of this strategy — a combination of military readiness and information work.
Thus, Taiwan is not only strengthening its defense but is also actively working with the information space, trying to find allies within China. It is too early to talk about the results of this campaign, but the very fact of launching such a website testifies to the seriousness of the intentions of the Taiwanese authorities.