China Uses IT and Marketing Firms for Massive Disinformation Campaign Against Taiwan

Taiwan’s intelligence officials have revealed extensive research detailing China’s sophisticated disinformation campaign targeting the island democracy, identifying tens of thousands of fake accounts and millions of misleading content pieces as part of Beijing’s ongoing cognitive warfare efforts.

In an analysis released Sunday titled “People’s Republic of China’s cognitive warfare tactics against Taiwan in 2025,” the National Security Bureau (NSB) outlined how Chinese authorities coordinate with technology and marketing companies to manufacture and disseminate false narratives aimed at undermining Taiwan’s social cohesion and international support.

The intelligence agency uncovered over 45,000 fraudulent social media accounts and more than 2.3 million instances of disinformation circulated throughout 2025. According to the report, these operations are not random but carefully orchestrated under the direction of China’s Central Propaganda Department and Ministry of Public Security.

“These are sophisticated, state-backed operations designed to appear organic,” said a security analyst familiar with the report who requested anonymity. “The scale and coordination reveal significant resources being dedicated to information manipulation targeting Taiwan.”

The NSB investigation found that Chinese IT companies play a central role in these operations, building extensive databases and developing automated programs to manage networks of fake and bot accounts. These technical assets allow for the rapid deployment of narratives aligned with Beijing’s objectives.

Marketing firms including Haixunshe, Haimai, and Huya have been identified as creators of fabricated news websites that publish content reflecting China’s official positions on Taiwan. These sites often present themselves as legitimate news sources while serving as vehicles for state-approved messaging.

In a particularly concerning development, the NSB highlighted how the Wubianjie Group operates numerous “content farms” through Facebook pages that initially attract followers with clickbait and entertainment content. Once these pages build substantial audiences, they pivot to introducing political narratives designed to sway Taiwanese public opinion toward positions favorable to Beijing.

“This bait-and-switch tactic is particularly effective because users don’t realize they’re being gradually exposed to propaganda after initially following what seemed like harmless entertainment content,” explained a digital media expert at Taiwan’s Institute for Information Security.

The ultimate objectives of these information operations, according to the NSB, are multifaceted: deepening political and social divisions within Taiwan, eroding citizens’ resistance to Chinese influence, weakening international allies’ commitment to Taiwan’s defense, and cultivating pro-PRC sentiment among the Taiwanese population.

Taiwan’s democratic system, with its open media environment and robust online discourse, presents both strengths and vulnerabilities in the face of such campaigns. The island’s vibrant civil society facilitates public debate, but also provides opportunities for foreign actors to exploit existing political divisions.

To counter these threats, the NSB reported it has intensified collaboration with domestic government agencies while strengthening partnerships with independent fact-checking organizations and major social media platforms to quickly identify and remove false information.

On the international front, Taiwan’s intelligence community has conducted more than 80 security dialogues and intelligence exchange conferences with partner nations over the past year, seeking to build a more robust coalition of democracies prepared to counter disinformation campaigns.

The revelations come amid heightened cross-strait tensions following years of increased military pressure from Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory despite the island’s self-governance for over seven decades.

Experts suggest that as conventional military confrontation carries significant risks and economic costs, Beijing has increasingly turned to information warfare as a less provocative but potentially effective means of advancing its reunification agenda.

“These cognitive warfare tactics represent a critical front in China’s overall approach to Taiwan,” said a regional security expert. “While less visible than military exercises, they may prove more consequential in shaping the long-term political landscape.”