At least 15 members of Taiwan’s pro-Beijing Chinese Unification Promotion Party (CUPP), or individuals closely associated with the party, have registered to run in Taiwan’s upcoming local elections, according to national security officials.

Only two are running under the CUPP banner, while the remainder are registered as independents or under other political parties, according to a Sept. 18 report by the Central News Agency (CNA).

Security officials warned that the candidates could present a risk of foreign influence combining with local criminal networks, describing the potential threat as the election becoming “stained red and black”—with “red” referring to alleged Chinese Communist Party influence and “black” referring to organized crime.

15 candidates tied to pro-Beijing party

The candidates are seeking positions including village and borough chiefs, township and city representatives, and county and city council seats. They are spread across New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi and Pingtung, according to CNA.

Only Lü Atian, running for a borough chief position in Yingge, New Taipei City, and Huang Jinliang, running in Hukou, Hsinchu County, registered as CUPP candidates. Officials said some of the others may be attempting to “downplay their connection” to the party by running under different affiliations.

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Separately, FTV News reported, citing security officials, that more than 80 percent of the CUPP-linked candidates have been implicated in criminal cases involving offenses including fraud, intimidation, vote-buying and assault.

The Ministry of the Interior has also moved against the CUPP itself. On Aug. 7, the ministry formally petitioned Taiwan’s Constitutional Court to dissolve the party, alleging that CUPP members had cooperated with CCP organizations, introduced Chinese funding into election activities and assisted Beijing-linked influence operations, CNA reported.

The ministry alleges that CUPP members have helped develop organizations for the CCP in Taiwan, recruited current and retired military personnel for travel to China, and used Chinese-funded trips as a means of influencing voters.

Security officials urged voters who encounter intimidation, vote-buying or other suspected illegal conduct to report it to police or prosecutors.

Officials cite violence and alleged election interference

Taiwanese authorities have also pointed to previous violent incidents and alleged election-interference cases involving CUPP members.

In 2017, Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong and others were surrounded by black-clad protesters after arriving in Taiwan. Later that year, students protesting a Sing! China event at National Taiwan University were attacked following clashes involving pro-unification groups, according to a separate CNA report.

In September 2019, Hong Kong singer and democracy activist Denise Ho was splashed with red paint while speaking to reporters near Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan. Authorities identified the attacker as Hu Chih-wei, then the head of a CUPP branch.

Security officials also cited the case of CUPP Central Committee member Chang Meng-chung and his wife, Hung Wen-ting. Prosecutors accused the pair of receiving approximately NT$74 million (US$2.4 million) from sources linked to China’s Taiwan Affairs Office between 2011 and 2023.

According to prosecutors, Chang used material supplied by Chinese organizations in radio broadcasts and on Douyin, Facebook and YouTube to promote Beijing-backed positions during Taiwan’s referendums, recall elections and national elections. The couple were indicted in 2024 on charges that included alleged violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act.

Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang said in July that the government considers the CUPP’s conduct to be “systematic and organized,” alleging that core members had been involved in violations of national security, anti-infiltration and election laws. Public Television Service reported that Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau has also documented CUPP members’ involvement in cases ranging from attempted murder and intimidation to assault, fraud and drug offenses.

CUPP founder Chang An-le has rejected the government’s allegations. Responding to the dissolution effort, Chang said his activities were intended to promote peace and argued: “I was protecting the safety of people’s lives.” He also accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party government of provoking tensions.

The Constitutional Court has not yet ruled on the government’s petition to dissolve the party.

Original article