Скачать или смотреть Investigation underway on Chinese election meddling in Taiwan’s biggest cities

The Investigation Bureau says it’s looking into 33 allegations of Chinese interference in the local elections. So far, investigators have verified enough evidence to send four cases to local prosecutors. The ruling party says Beijing is interfering in the mayoral races of Taipei, New Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung in a rehearsal for wider interference in the 2020 presidential election. As they enter the final sprint to Election Day, candidates of all stripes are pushing hard to get out the vote. Investigators say Beijing is quietly doing the same.Lai Ching-tePremierThis is a fact. Days ago, the U.S. vice president went to the Hudson Institute to give a speech. He made a particular note of China using various means to sway U.S. elections. China wants to influence the internal affairs of the U.S. and, of course, Taiwan will not be spared. Each of our candidates needs to exercise self-discipline to keep foreign powers from infiltrating our elections. It’s against the law.The Investigation Bureau said it’s investigating 33 cases of Beijing allegedly backing political candidates. At present, four of the cases have sufficient grounds for prosecution. Investigators say China’s tactics include vote-buying, direct donations, and indirect donations to select candidates.Leu Wen-jongInvestigation Bureau Director-GeneralMoney is another means of support. Of course, investigating this matter would take us outside our borders. That presents a certain degree of difficulty.The Democratic Progressive Party says China’s spending in this year’s elections is a testing ground for wider influence operations in Taiwan’s 2020 presidential race.Hsu Chia-chingDPP Deputy Secretary-GeneralDon’t leave Taiwan’s gate wide open for the sake of winning. I feel that the most effective approach here is to rely on the collective power of the people to reject candidates that are backed by cash-based political interference and bribery.Historically, China has taken up a variety of tactics to sway Taiwan’s political elections. Back in 1996, Beijing fired missiles near Taiwan to intimidate the electorate before the presidential election.