TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung (NZZ) on Monday published a report examining Chinese espionage and influence operations in Taiwan, describing efforts to shape public perception and weaken the country without direct military confrontation.
The report said that since Chinese leader Xi Jinping came to power, China has progressively institutionalized its surveillance and intelligence systems while strengthening national security governance through legal frameworks, per CNA. China’s 2015 National Security Law is seen as a foundational element of this system, as it reaffirms Beijing’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan and classifies actions deemed to oppose the “One China principle” as national security threats.
China’s revised Anti-Espionage Law, amended in 2023, further expanded the scope of enforcement. The report said these legal changes increase risks for Taiwanese and foreigners traveling to China.
NZZ compared China’s intelligence apparatus with Western agencies such as the CIA, MI6, and Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, noting that personnel linked to China’s Ministry of State Security far exceed those of Western counterparts. It also said Beijing has deployed a significant number of operatives in Taiwan for intelligence gathering and influence activities.
The report said the CCP’s United Front Work Department and affiliated organizations in Taiwan operate differently from traditional intelligence services, using business associations, cultural groups, and religious organizations to conduct influence operations. Court records also indicate that some Taiwanese organized crime groups have been suspected of receiving funding or coercion to spread disinformation.
To illustrate infiltration concerns, the report cited cases involving Taiwan-based political figures and organizations linked to China, which have raised questions over national security and democratic governance. Several individuals have been indicted by Taiwanese courts.
The report said the People’s Liberation Army maintains a large cyber warfare force for overseas operations, describing Taiwan’s internet environment as a “digital battlefield.” It added that Taiwan recorded an average of 2.63 million cyberattacks per day from China in 2025.
Regarding espionage cases, the report cited allegations that media figures received cryptocurrency from foreign sources, produced political content, recruited active and retired military personnel for propaganda videos, and gathered military intelligence. Taiwanese authorities have indicted those involved.
Swiss citizen Daniel Aufschlag told CNA that upon seeing the news, he felt the current situation in Taiwan was precarious and realized how deeply the CCP had infiltrated Taiwan. He said he shared the article widely with friends and family, urging greater awareness of the issue as part of broader concerns over global democracy.
