TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s recent publication of personal information belonging to Taiwanese military officers signals a new stage of cognitive warfare aimed at undermining trust within Taiwan’s armed forces and society, according to a report by the American Enterprise Institute.
On Oct. 10, China’s Ministry of State Security accused members of Taiwan’s Military Intelligence Bureau of conducting propaganda and sabotage operations, releasing the photos, full names, and birth dates of three individuals, per CNA. The following day, the Xiamen Public Security Bureau issued a bounty notice offering rewards for information on 18 Taiwanese military officers accused of being members of a “psychological warfare” unit running “separatist” operations online.
Since Taiwanese military officers rarely travel to China, the Washington-based think tank said the reward notices are unlikely to result in arrests. However, the campaign demonstrates that Beijing is escalating cognitive warfare operations targeting Taiwan’s armed forces and broader society.
It said that the inclusion of personal data in the notices indicates deep penetration of Taiwan’s military and intelligence networks. This could erode public trust in the armed forces and undermine morale and confidence within the military.
At a Legislative Yuan session on Oct. 15, National Security Bureau Director Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) said Beijing was using a mix of open-source and false intelligence for intimidation purposes. He added that many of the photos and data released were inaccurate and pledged to work with the Ministry of National Defense to strengthen personnel de-identification measures.
According to AEI, one of Beijing’s main methods for recruiting spies in Taiwan is exploiting soldiers’ financial difficulties. On Oct. 12, two Taiwanese servicemen were indicted for leaking classified information to China.
The case began in 2023 when a Chinese agent recruited a former Navy private surnamed Lin (林), who had been dismissed from service, to act as a Chinese proxy. Lin later recruited an active-duty soldier to provide China with classified military materials, including manuals for the Hsiung Feng II missile, in exchange for about US$1,200 (NT$36,700).
AEI added that China’s espionage operations in Taiwan extend beyond the military. On Oct. 14, a former manager at EVA Air surnamed Chiao (喬) confessed to working as a Chinese agent since 2014. Chiao reportedly attempted to bribe a junior employee at the Mainland Affairs Council to obtain sensitive information, but the offer was rejected.
