TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋) on Monday urged the KMT to condemn China’s interference in Taiwan’s Nov. 28 local elections, CNA reported.
Speaking to CNEWS host Huang Kuang-chin (黃光芹), Shen warned that Beijing’s actions could turn voters against China and hurt the KMT. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office and media affiliated with the Chinese military criticized television host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永) after he attended the opening of Shen’s campaign headquarters, per Taisounds.
Shen said it was unusual for Chinese military media to target someone simply for attending a campaign event. Security officials had previously warned that Beijing’s use of military-affiliated media to criticize Tsai marked an escalation in its efforts to influence elections, per SETN.
Shen also rejected allegations that his father had business interests in China, saying he instead conducted trade in Central and South America. The allegations resurfaced after Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po claimed that his father’s company continued trading with China despite earlier sanctions.
Shen said foreign interference can affect elections without necessarily breaking election laws. He explained that threats, sanctions, and political pressure could still influence voters, even when they do not meet the legal definition of a crime.
He urged the KMT to oppose Beijing’s actions publicly, warning that continued interference could damage the party’s election prospects. He cited former Broadcasting Corporation of China Chair Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康), who previously urged Beijing to stop circulating political videos during a KMT leadership contest, per Taisounds.
Drawing on his research into Chinese influence operations, Shen warned that less visible tactics could pose greater risks. These include fake social media accounts, people posing as political opponents, and fabricated documents presented as leaked information.
Shen said Beijing’s public attacks could backfire by deepening distrust of China among voters. Political scientist Yeh Yao-yuan (葉耀元) separately warned that Chinese influence operations involving Hong Kong media could deepen political divisions in Taiwan, per Rfi.