Taiwan's government is tightening security 60 days before nationwide local elections, framing Chinese interference as the main threat.

• Premier Cho Jung-tai ordered a hard line on vote-buying and violence in the run-up to the year-end nine-in-one local elections.
• China is the named concern: new mainland laws and border-control rules are being treated as tools of cross-border pressure on Taiwanese.
• Amendments to the national security law and the rules governing cross-strait relations are sitting in the legislature awaiting passage.
• Anti-fraud efforts are being claimed as an early win, with reported phone and online scam cases down sharply since a new reporting dashboard launched.
• The broader pitch: Taiwan absorbed US tariff talks, the Ukraine and Middle East wars, and typhoon damage while holding its international rankings.

Outlook: Expect louder accusations of Chinese election meddling as voting nears, with security bills the main fight between the cabinet and the legislature.