The Silent Invasion: The Strategy and Mechanism of China’s Information Warfare on Taiwanese National Identity

Abstract

My thesis investigates China's information warfare strategy aimed at Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the dissemination of disinformation and manipulation of public opinion via social media, particularly the LINE platform. By analyzing existing research and studies, the research uncovers tactics like selective news, fake news, and mixed news employed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to infiltrate online communities and undermine trust in the Taiwanese government. The impact of this disinformation campaign on vaccine selection and public trust in government policies is explored, revealing heightened political polarization and preference for CCP narratives among certain segments of the Taiwanese population. Employing text analysis techniques and Natural Language Processing (NLP), the research aims to uncover the CCP's operational methods, track the origin and evolution of disinformation narratives, and discern patterns of reposting to understand the manipulation tactics used. The interdisciplinary approach of cybersecurity and policy analysis offers new insights and potential solutions to counter information warfare, particularly in the context of Taiwan's evolving national identity and cultural dynamics.