Taiwan's government says China is escalating its pressure campaign against Taiwanese people abroad, which is bad news for Taiwanese citizens overseas and a warning sign for Taiwan's allies.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry says China has moved beyond just political pressure and is now using digital surveillance, stalking, and even suspected violent threats against Taiwanese people overseas.

The ministry pointed to examples: Chinese state media sharing satellite photos of Taiwanese lawmakers' homes and workplaces to intimidate them, and a Taiwanese artist who criticized Beijing being tracked and allegedly targeted for harm by people paid by Chinese operatives.

In response, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has ordered overseas offices to update their emergency plans so they can help Taiwanese citizens facing threats abroad. Taiwan is also working more closely with other democracies to push back against China's pressure tactics and to keep pursuing a bigger role in international groups like the United Nations and the World Health Organization, despite China's objections.

Taiwan is also trying to expand its global role in other ways, including launching a new international group focused on disaster response, positioning itself as a useful partner for other countries.

Outlook: Expect continued friction between Taiwan and China on this issue, with Taiwan pushing allied democracies to coordinate more closely against what it calls China's "hybrid" pressure tactics.