Taiwan accuses China of election meddling via trade probe

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Presidential Office Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung accused China on Wednesday (Dec. 20) of timing the release of its trade barrier investigation results to influence Taiwan's elections.

According to Lin, China's tactics, resembling "drawing a bow without releasing the arrow," aim to instill fear in Taiwanese voters about potential economic repercussions. However, Lin believes these actions also harm China's interests.

He suggests that China's premature release of the investigation's findings targets Taiwan's economic voter base, possibly in coordination with the recent visit of Kuomintang (KMT) Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia to China, which began on Dec. 13, just two days before China announced the results.

While Hsia claimed his visit was to check on Taiwanese businesses and students, Lin hinted it might have election-related motives.

Lin called for a transparent discussion on how the Chinese Communist Party interferes in Taiwan's elections, citing instances of borough wardens being invited on all-expenses-paid trips by China to exert influence.

Lin also pointed out that Chairman Wang Huning of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held a meeting in early December specifically focused on interfering in Taiwan's elections, indicating a coordinated strategy from China targeting the Taiwanese electoral process.