Taiwan's national security officials say China is ramping up interference ahead of local elections, escalating from disinformation to military-backed intimidation of public figures.

• Chinese state media accused Taiwan's ruling party of using illegal gambling rings to manipulate the upcoming local elections, a claim officials call fabricated disinformation.
• A PLA-linked propaganda account publicly threatened a Taiwanese TV host for appearing at a candidate's campaign launch, which officials say marks a shift to "military-level" psychological pressure rarely seen in local races.
• Officials say Beijing is running a coordinated campaign combining smear attacks on candidates, military intimidation of entertainers, and fake news to confuse voters and erode trust in democracy.
• The goal, according to officials, is to flood voters with false information so they lose the ability to judge clearly and end up electing candidates Beijing favors.
• Officials note similar tactics blending online trolling and state-media disinformation are now showing up in other democracies' elections too.

Outlook: Expect continued disinformation and intimidation tactics from Beijing as Taiwan's election nears, with officials urging voters to stay alert and skeptical of unverified claims.