Lai Ching-te Warns of Chinese Election Interference Ahead of Taiwan's Local Vote
Taiwan's president is warning that China may try to meddle in next month's local elections, urging his party not to get complacent in the final stretch of the race.
- Lai Ching-te, serving as both president and ruling party chair, told candidates not to be overconfident and to stay alert as voting day approaches on November 28.
- He said China's election interference tactics have grown more complex, now possibly combining AI-generated content, cross-border pressure campaigns, and coordinated online troll networks, not just old-style propaganda.
- The goal isn't just swaying vote counts directly, but spreading false information, stoking social divisions, and chipping away at public trust in democracy itself.
- He also addressed recovery from a recent typhoon that caused farm damage, saying disaster relief for affected farmers will be handled quickly and generously.
- Separately, high-speed and regular rail tickets for the holiday will open for booking October 30, with Lai encouraging people working or studying away from home to travel back to vote.
Outlook: Expect Taiwan's government to keep publicly flagging alleged Chinese interference efforts as the November 28 vote nears, with information campaigns likely to intensify on both sides.