In addition to frequent harassment of Taiwan by Chinese military aircrafts, the National Security Bureau has further warned that the Government Service Network (GSN) suffered over 170 million intrusion attempts in the first quarter of this year, according to a Radio Taiwan International (RIT) report.
It cannot be ruled out that the Chinese Communist Party is laying the groundwork to interfere in the year-end elections. Moreover, in order to overcome its technological challenges, the CCP has focused on Taiwan’s high-tech industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, using various methods to obtain Taiwan’s advanced-process chips and other key core technologies and products, said a report released by Taiwan’s National Security Bureau.
According to aircraft and vessel activity released by the Ministry of National Defense on April 7, from 6:00 a.m. on the 6th to 6:00 a.m. on April 7, the Taiwanese military detected six Chinese naval vessels, two official ships, and three sorties of Chinese military aircraft crossing the median line and disturbing the northern and eastern airspace. Taiwan’s military deployed mission aircraft, naval vessels, and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor and respond.
On the April 8, the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee invited National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen to present a “National Intelligence Work and National Security Bureau Operations Report” and to undergo questioning. The written report had already been delivered to the Legislative Yuan on the afternoon of the 6th.
Attacks on government service network
The National Security Bureau warned that the Government Service Network (GSN) suffered more than 173.28 million intrusion attempts in the first quarter of this year. These attacks not only showed clear intentions of expanding intelligence gathering, surveillance, and data theft, but also incorporated AI deepfake technology and the dissemination of fake opinion polls, aiming to influence election results and policy directions. It cannot be ruled out that the Chinese Communist Party is laying the groundwork to interfere in the year-end elections, reported IANS.
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Regarding cognitive warfare involving controversial information, the NSB reported that from January to March this year, intelligence teams identified over 13,000 abnormal accounts and more than 860,000 pieces of disputed information, according to Maeil Business, a Korean Economic media.
This indicates that the CCP continues to target Taiwan’s major issues—including diplomacy, national defense, and the economy—spreading contentious narratives through official media, online “troll armies,” fake accounts, and content farms. These efforts are combined with AI-generated and manipulated content to intensify internal divisions within Taiwan.
Military Intrusions
The NSB also noted in its report that in the first quarter of this year, more than 420 Chinese military aircraft sorties harassed Taiwan. In coordination with Chinese naval vessels, they carried out 10 “joint combat readiness patrols,” using routine training exercises to test their operational capabilities against Taiwan. In addition, China has regularly dispatched coast guard ships to intrude into restricted waters around Taiwan’s offshore islands. In 2025, there were 44 such incursions into restricted waters near Kinmen, and by the end of March this year, there had already been 12. During these operations, vessels deliberately turned off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to test Taiwan’s monitoring and response capabilities.
The NSB further stated that China has organized a “shadow fleet” to support military training, including requisitioning civilian vessels such as roll-on/roll-off ships and cargo ships to participate in coastal military transport exercises in Fujian and Guangdong. It has also used civilian semi-submersible ships to conduct amphibious landing and logistical support drills.
Additionally, Chinese fishing vessels have periodically approached waters around Taiwan and its offshore islands, often turning off or falsifying AIS signals and misusing Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) numbers. Large numbers of fishing vessels were also observed forming “array-style clusters” in the East China Sea in December last year and January this year. It is assessed that fisheries authorities issued weather-avoidance directives to guide these vessels’ movements at sea, highlighting China’s ability to mobilize large fleets of fishing boats—capabilities that could potentially be used in future operations to harass Taiwan’s surrounding waters.
Damage to submarine cables
Additionally, in 2025, there were a total of four incidents involving damage to submarine cables around Taiwan’s offshore islands, three of which were suspected to have been caused by Chinese vessels. As for Chinese ocean survey and research ships, they have frequently conducted hydrological surveys and seabed mapping activities around Taiwan. It cannot be ruled out that these efforts are intended to assist the Chinese military in battlefield reconnaissance and operational planning in key maritime areas.
According to a report by Liberty Times, regarding the international situation, the report noted that although the United States and China have planned mutual visits by their leaders and attempted to manage differences, their competitive posture has not eased. The United States continues to strengthen joint defense cooperation with its Indo-Pacific allies to enhance overall deterrence capabilities. Meanwhile, China exerts pressure on Taiwan through military exercises, legal warfare, and cognitive warfare, attempting to influence public perception and internal unity. In response, the National Security Bureau stated that it will continue to monitor China’s external behavior patterns and regional developments through bilateral and multilateral intelligence exchanges and security dialogues, providing references for policymaking.
The NSB pointed out that regarding election interference, Taiwan will hold “nine-in-one” local public office elections at the end of this year. China is expected to employ hybrid methods to interfere, including the use of AI deepfake technology to spread controversial information, releasing fake opinion polls, operating underground betting markets, and using incentives such as hosted trips, opening group tourism, and agricultural procurement to increase interference in Taiwan’s democratic elections, aiming to influence election outcomes and policy directions.
Threats to economy and Industry
According to a Central News Agency report, in terms of “economic and trade integration with Taiwan,” the NSB stated that under China’s “15th Five-Year Plan,” priority is being placed on attracting Taiwan’s high-tech industries—such as AI, semiconductors, and precision machinery—to invest or establish operations in China. China also continues to use indirect channels for talent poaching, technology theft, and acquisition of controlled goods, seeking to obtain Taiwan’s advanced chip manufacturing technologies and other key core technologies and products to break through international technological containment.
The NSB further stated that in terms of united front exchanges toward Taiwan, China is continuing last year’s narrative commemorating World War II and has intensified promotion this year during the “Two Sessions” of establishing a so-called “Taiwan Retrocession Day,” attempting to promote the idea of Taiwan’s “return” and confuse international opinion. At the same time, it is adopting a “differentiated” United Front strategy, organizing forums, exchange visits, and other activities to attract various groups from Taiwan to China, using these opportunities to promote its Taiwan policies and “integration and unification” agenda.
Extraterritorial law enforcement
Regarding transnational repression, the NSB noted that in recent years China has introduced a series of measures targeting “Taiwan independence,” even claiming the possibility of extraterritorial law enforcement. These actions aim to create fear and division within Taiwan, projecting an image of governance over Taiwan while undermining its sovereignty.
The NSB explained that such tactics include establishing reporting mechanisms, offering rewards for informants, issuing warrants for Taiwanese individuals, spreading controversial pro-military unification messaging through collaborators to create panic, and sending personnel to Taiwan to harass or issue direct threats. In terms of infiltration and espionage, China has sought to collect sensitive national defense and government information by offering investments, business opportunities, or financial incentives to lure retired Taiwanese personnel into contacting active-duty military members.
The National Security Bureau stated that such approaches are also carried out via online platforms, targeting active-duty and retired military personnel in financial need by offering loans or monetary incentives. These inducements are used to obtain sensitive information, as well as to coerce individuals into producing videos, audio recordings, or written pledges expressing loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party.
From last year through March of this year, a total of 58 individuals have been prosecuted in espionage cases, of whom 32 were active-duty or retired military personnel, accounting for approximately 55 percent.