Introduction
Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has become increasingly notorious for its interference in the internal affairs of other nations, particularly in their electoral processes. The United States recently accused China of attempting to influence its upcoming presidential elections, shining a spotlight on Beijing's aggressive tactics. Similarly, Canada's Security Intelligence Service report revealed covert Chinese efforts to sway its federal elections in both 2019 and 2021.
Chinese President Xi Jinping | REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
Western News on China
Canada has been rocked by allegations of Chinese-sponsored interference in its 2019 and 2021 federal elections for over a year. Fueled by anonymous leaks from Canadian security services, and despite initial reluctance from the Trudeau government, Ottawa has initiated a thorough public inquiry into foreign interference.
Recent hearings spanning ten days on this matter concluded, featuring testimonies from various Chinese diaspora groups and submissions from targeted Members of Parliament, including the shadow minister for foreign affairs. The proceedings culminated with live testimony from the Prime Minister himself. Following these hearings, an interim report by the inquiry declared China as the "most persistent and sophisticated foreign interference threat to Canada" at present.
China's attempts to influence elections extend beyond Canada and have been reported in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, a declassified assessment of the 2022 American midterm elections highlighted China's heightened willingness to engage in election influence activities compared to previous cycles. The involvement of multiple foreign actors reflects evolving geopolitical risk calculations and the perceived normalization and low-cost, high-reward nature of such interference efforts.
Efforts to dissuade China from interfering in the 2024 elections have become a priority, with reports suggesting that President Joe Biden's recent conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping included a warning to stay out of the electoral process. However, timely action is crucial, as recent reports by the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center indicate China's use of fake social media accounts to poll voters and sow division in the U.S. presidential election.
When foreign governments interfere in democratic processes, they jeopardize the very foundations of the polity itself. The West must recognize these efforts as political warfare waged by foreign adversaries, regardless of the severity of the attack. Even rumors and innuendos can undermine the legitimacy of a targeted democracy, as seen in past instances of election interference.
Since the revelation of Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, the focus has primarily been on defensive measures to protect civil society from adversary meddling. However, a purely defensive posture risks stifling political discourse and imposing disproportionate burdens on citizens' rights to speech and association.
To establish deterrence against Chinese interference, a proactive and preventative approach is necessary. Deterrence is most effective when adversaries perceive a credible risk of failure or detection, along with potential consequences for their actions. It's imperative for the U.S. and its allies to communicate to the Chinese Communist Party that democracy is critical infrastructure, and any attack on its integrity will incur consequences.
China supports Political Parties favorable to the Chinese regime
Using sophisticated tools, Beijing is actively attempting to enforce its political agenda worldwide. The aim is to achieve results that benefit the Chinese government and align with its strategic goals. Beijing's extensive efforts in this area consistently undermine the sovereignty and national interests of other countries. This is especially evident in nations with strained relations with Beijing due to its aggressive territorial ambitions.
China’s recent history of election interference
China's interference in elections stems from its comprehensive 'influence operations' (IO) aimed at other countries. At the heart of Beijing's IO lies a disinformation campaign meant to discredit foreign leaders by portraying them as weak and susceptible. One prominent actor in this realm is the Spamouflage Dragon, also known as Dragon Bridge. This influential network has been active since 2017-18, spreading Chinese disinformation across various social media platforms. Its extensive reach was exposed when Meta shut down nearly 9,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to this network in August 2023. These campaigns, found on over 50 social media platforms, targeted nations like the UK, the US, and Australia, highlighting the scale of China's efforts to influence foreign elections.
Chinese influence operations extend beyond social media, encompassing both overt and covert tactics. These strategies involve cultivating assets such as local and independent media, influential personalities, political parties, business figures, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Instead of direct diplomatic statements, China subtly communicates its preferences for certain candidates through state-affiliated media and the United Front Work Department (UFWD), which focuses on exerting influence overseas. By leveraging a diverse range of channels and actors, China seeks to shape electoral outcomes in favor of its strategic interests, posing a significant challenge to the sovereignty of other nations.
China's Evil Objective
The primary goal of Chinese influence operations in foreign elections is to ensure that elected candidates or parties align with pro-China interests. These operations rely on disinformation campaigns aimed at swaying election outcomes by undermining voter confidence in candidates not favored by Beijing. In a notable instance in November 2023, around 4,800 fake social media accounts impersonating Americans and linked to China were shut down. These accounts were spreading narratives intended to polarize public opinion ahead of the US Presidential elections. Similarly, during Australia's 2022 federal elections, Chinese disinformation efforts aimed to promote a pro-Chinese stance within the Australian government. A similar pattern emerged during the 2022 presidential elections in the Philippines.
In a concerning development, Chinese disinformation efforts have escalated with the utilization of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create propaganda images and videos. These AI-generated materials specifically target parties and politicians deemed critical of China or contrary to Chinese interests. A recent report by Microsoft sounded the alarm, warning that China is prepared to deploy generative AI to influence elections in South Korea, India, and the US, all of which are slated for this year.
When China Meddled in Taiwan's Election
During Taiwan's presidential elections in January, the initial utilization of this technology by China was observed, marking a concerning turn in disinformation tactics. China's objectives in these campaigns extended beyond mere influence, aiming to undermine Taiwan's democratic framework, promote a pro-unification narrative, and weaken its ties with the US. The Supreme Prosecutor's Office in Taiwan reported approximately 102 instances of foreign interference, many of which were attributed to China. The Democratic People's Party (DPP), which advocates for independence and currently maintains a status quo stance, emerged as a primary target of these disinformation efforts. Since assuming power in 2016, the DPP and its leaders have faced persistent vilification in Chinese-linked local and social media, characterized as a 'belligerent' entity, alongside smear campaigns aimed at discrediting its leaders.
In addition to media manipulation, China employed a multifaceted approach during the Taiwanese elections, including economic coercion, military intimidation, and the manipulation of local officials to further its agenda. This highlights the intricate and diverse tactics employed by China to interfere in the electoral processes of foreign nations, as evidenced by Taiwan's recent elections.
Microsoft has disclosed China's strategy to utilize AI in disrupting elections in India
Microsoft has issued a cautionary alert indicating that China is preparing to interfere with forthcoming elections in India, the United States, and South Korea, utilizing artificial intelligence-generated material. This warning follows China's trial manipulation during Taiwan's presidential election, where AI was employed to influence the outcome.
In the previous month, Microsoft's co-founder, Bill Gates, held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi regarding the application of AI for societal causes, empowerment of women, and advancements in health and agriculture.
Globally, approximately 64 countries, in addition to the European Union, are poised to conduct national elections, encompassing nearly half of the world's population.
As per Microsoft's threat intelligence unit, Chinese state-backed cyber groups, potentially with collaboration from North Korea, are anticipated to target numerous elections slated for 2024. Microsoft suggests that China is likely to disseminate AI-generated content through social media platforms to influence public sentiment in alignment with their interests during these electoral processes.
All the countries in which China claims territory
From Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh to the South China Sea, China has persistently asserted unfounded territorial claims across various regions worldwide. China has disputes, both on land and at sea, with numerous countries, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, India, South Korea, North Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Mongolia and Myanmar, raising significant concerns. China's aggressive behavior towards neighboring nations has long been evident, and its recent interference in the electoral processes of other countries adds to these worries. This aggressive stance, coupled with electoral meddling, highlights the broader challenge posed by China's assertive policies, capturing global attention and prompting widespread scrutiny.
When Chinese Apps were stealing Data
On June 29th, the Indian Government took decisive action by banning 59 mobile applications of Chinese origin, including popular apps like ShareIt, TikTok, CamScanner, UC Browser, and Club Factory. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology emphasized that the ban was essential to protect the sovereignty and integrity of India. Citing multiple complaints from various sources, the Government highlighted concerns about the misuse of these apps for stealing and circulating private data outside India.
Last year, cybersecurity analysts from Pradeo, a mobile cybersecurity company, made a troubling discovery on Google Play. They found two apps embedded with spyware, sending data to malicious servers located in China. These apps, named "File Recovery and data recovery" and "File Manager," were both published by the developer "Wang Tom." According to Pradeo, the spyware was surreptitiously collecting various data from user's devices, including contact lists, real-time location, mobile country code, network provider name, SIM provider network code, and device brand and model.
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