Chinese authorities have issued a bounty for information leading to the capture of 18 Taiwanese military officers accused of running psychological operations against Beijing, escalating tensions a day after Taiwan’s president vowed to strengthen the island’s defences.
The public security bureau in Xiamen, a coastal city across the Taiwan Strait, said on Saturday that the 18 individuals were “core members” of Taiwan’s military psychological warfare unit.
Chinese police offered rewards of up to 10,000 yuan (about $1,400) for tips about their whereabouts, publishing their photos, names, and Taiwan identity card numbers.
According to a statement from the bureau, the accused officers were responsible for spreading “separatist” messages, conducting disinformation campaigns, and running propaganda operations designed to “incite secession.”
State media outlet Xinhua claimed they launched smear websites, created “seditious” video games, produced fake news content, and operated illegal radio broadcasts aimed at manipulating public opinion with the help of “external forces.”
“For a long time they plotted to incite separatist activities,” the statement said.
Taiwan’s defence ministry swiftly condemned the accusations, calling them “another example of the despotic and pig-headed thinking of an authoritarian regime.”
In a statement, the ministry said China was attempting to “divide our people, belittle our government, and conduct cognitive warfare.”
It added that Beijing was exploiting Taiwan’s open and democratic society to “fabricate personal data and manipulate public perception,” stressing that defending the island’s security “is the unshirkable duty of every military officer and soldier.”
Analysts noted that the move is largely symbolic since Taiwanese intelligence and military officers do not travel to mainland China, and Beijing’s legal jurisdiction does not extend to the self-ruled island.
The bounty announcement came one day after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te reaffirmed his government’s commitment to boosting national defence and called on Beijing to renounce the use of force to seize the island. China responded angrily, labeling Lai a “troublemaker” and a “war-maker.”
In June, China issued a similar bounty targeting 20 Taiwanese military hackers, a move Taipei dismissed as “political theatre” and an attempt at intimidation.
The latest notice underscores Beijing’s growing efforts to pressure Taiwan through legal, political, and psychological means as cross-strait relations continue to deteriorate.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
