China is using artificial intelligence to spread false information in Taiwan, aiming to confuse the public and influence decisions in ways that could benefit the Chinese Communist Party. This warning comes directly from Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, which recently presented a detailed report to the island’s parliament. The bureau described this tactic as a serious threat to Taiwan’s democracy.
Generative AI Fuels Disinformation
According to Taiwan’s intelligence officials, China is using generative AI to create and spread hundreds of thousands of misleading or false messages online. These messages often appear on popular platforms like Facebook and TikTok, making them difficult to track and easy to consume. The report noted that over 500,000 controversial messages had already been detected in 2025.
Many of these messages are carefully timed. For example, false claims have been spread during sensitive moments like President Lai Ching-te’s recent speech about China or the announcement of a major U.S. investment by chipmaker TSMC. Taiwan’s government says these AI-generated posts are part of “cognitive warfare,” aimed at confusing citizens and dividing public opinion.
The Power of Misleading Information
What makes this strategy so dangerous, according to Taiwanese officials, is how easily disinformation can sway public opinion. In a democracy like Taiwan, voters shape the future through their choices. If those choices are influenced by lies or manipulated content, it opens the door to decisions that could favor China’s interests, even against the will of the majority.
President Lai has made it clear that only the people of Taiwan should decide their future. However, the flood of AI-assisted disinformation is making it harder for citizens to find trustworthy information. As Taiwan’s National Security Bureau put it, the Chinese Communist Party’s use of AI is not just a technical issue but a national security threat.
More Than Just Words
China’s strategy doesn’t stop with AI-generated messages. The report also highlights a rise in “grey-zone” tactics that push the boundaries of conflict without starting a war. In early 2025, there has been a sharp increase in Chinese coast guard ships entering Taiwanese waters and more unidentified air balloons appearing in Taiwan’s airspace. These moves force Taiwan to respond, draining its military and financial resources.
China also continues to pressure Taiwan with military drills and economic threats. Just this month, China conducted two days of war games and live-fire drills near the island, raising alarms in the United States and among other democratic nations.
A Growing Threat to Sovereignty
Despite growing international concern, China has never ruled out the use of force to take control of Taiwan. For its part, Taiwan remains firm in rejecting China’s claims over the island. President Lai recently called China a “foreign hostile force,” underlining how serious Taiwan views the ongoing pressure and influence campaigns.
The use of AI to spread disinformation may seem less dramatic than tanks or warships, but Taiwanese leaders believe it is just as dangerous. In the wrong hands, technology can be used to weaken democratic systems from within. Taiwan’s warning is clear: disinformed citizens are vulnerable citizens, and that vulnerability could one day decide the future of the island.
ACZ Editor: Propaganda is almost always underestimated in its effects. While well-informed people may see through it, people who do not follow the facts and logic of an issue are prone to believe what is easiest to believe, which may very well be the ubiquitous propaganda with is simple, easy to believe formats.
This is perhaps the most dangerous action taken by the Chinese, since a single vote could plunge Taiwan into subservience to China.