In a bold revelation, Taiwan’s intelligence chiefs have pointed fingers at China for running a sprawling disinformation machine disguised as legitimate media. The National Security Bureau’s latest analysis paints a picture of state-sponsored fakery designed to manipulate hearts and minds.

Over the past year, agents identified 45,000+ phony social handles and nearly 2.3 million false narratives pumped out by bot armies. This ‘cognitive warfare’ leverages marketing outfits under directives from China’s propaganda and security apparatuses.

Fake news portals, built by entities such as Haixunshe and Huya, lure users with sensational fluff before unleashing anti-Taiwan rhetoric. The strategy seeks to deepen societal rifts, sap morale, deter international support, and nudge opinion toward Beijing’s orbit.

Cyber barrages intensified alongside PLA exercises, hitting government systems with millions of probes daily. Taiwan’s response includes bolstered fact-checking alliances and platform partnerships to scrub malicious content.

As tensions simmer across the strait, this report underscores the evolving battlefield where information is the prime weapon. Experts warn that without robust defenses, such campaigns could destabilize democracies from within.