Taiwan election: China sows doubt about US with disinformation

In Taiwan, a rumour has been circulating that the Taiwanese are consuming 'poisonous' pork imported from the United States. This weeks-old claim was followed by another rumour that the Taiwanese government was secretly extracting blood from its citizens to provide the US with material for a bioweapon to attack China. Both of these rumours have been quickly debunked. However, they are part of a narrative that has been gaining traction in Taiwan in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential and legislative elections.

This narrative, known as 'Yimeilun' or US scepticism, questions the loyalty of Taiwan's biggest ally, the United States. It portrays Taiwan as a pawn being exploited by America. The ultimate goal of this narrative, according to analysts, is to drive a wedge between Taiwan and the US, pushing Taiwan towards China. Disinformation experts suggest that China may be involved in spreading this narrative, and possibly even creating it. Evidence also points to Taiwanese individuals who are close to Beijing.

The narrative doesn't always involve conspiracy theories. Often, it highlights news that portrays the US in a negative light or suggests that it is an untrustworthy superpower. For instance, when Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSMC expanded its operations in the US, the move was described as American coercion and a 'hollowing out' of Taiwan's resources. Similarly, the US' arms sale to Taiwan was depicted as a scam, with the US allegedly selling unreliable weapons to Taiwan. These narratives have been discovered by think tank IORG in Chinese-language media outlets, social media, online forums, and messaging platforms between 2021 and 2023.