Taipei: Taiwan’s intelligence agency announced on Sunday that it is setting up a secure online reporting channel for Chinese nationals to share intelligence-related information, amid heightened tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled island.
In a statement, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau said it will launch a dedicated webpage designed to allow Chinese citizens to safely submit tips and sensitive information. The agency noted that an increasing number of individuals from mainland China have recently contacted Taiwanese authorities expressing willingness to “provide various types of information.”
The bureau attributed the development to growing internal pressures in China, stating that the country’s economy is facing mounting difficulties while political controls remain strict. It further added that a combination of social and livelihood challenges has contributed to rising public dissatisfaction.
Taiwanese officials said the initiative is inspired by similar practices used by intelligence agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel. In recent years, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had also released Mandarin-language outreach videos encouraging Chinese officials to discreetly share intelligence.
The move comes amid an ongoing information war between Beijing and Taipei. China has previously launched its own online reporting platforms encouraging citizens to report “Taiwan independence” activities and other actions it labels as separatist.
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, after the end of the Chinese civil war. However, Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification.
Tensions have further escalated in recent years, with China conducting frequent military exercises near the island. Taiwan has also increased its defensive readiness, including live-fire drills. On Wednesday, Taiwan’s military conducted rocket-firing exercises toward China in a demonstration of its defensive capabilities.
The latest development underscores the growing intelligence and psychological dimensions of the cross-strait rivalry, which continues to draw global attention involving major powers including the United States.
