The Jan. 11 elections will decide Taiwan’s next president and vice president, as well as new legislators. The bill says that the report should assess whether China conducted influence operations and provide a comprehensive list of specific Chinese governmental and non-governmental entities involved. While some US officials have cautioned about Chinese influence in Taiwanese elections, it is the first time that the US Congress has fingered such interference in a draft bill, MOFA deputy spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said when asked for comment. To counter escalating pressure from China, the ministry is maintaining close communications with the US government through networks in Taipei and Washington, the ministry said in a statement. Nonetheless, the crucial point is whether the US might provide intelligence and technological expertise in forestalling Chinese meddling in Taiwan’s elections, instead of just rendering a report on it afterward, Fan added.

Source: Taipei Times July 03, 2019 15:56 UTC