Taiwan launches website to collect intelligence on China

TAIPEI: Taiwan has launched a website for Chinese citizens to leak intelligence, inviting those “who share the same values of democracy” to collaborate on reporting on Beijing.

China claims democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to take it, while Taipei accuses Beijing of using espionage and infiltration to weaken its defences.

Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) introduced the platform with a one-minute AI-generated video showing a Chinese civil servant witnessing colleagues being removed and investigated, “reflecting a pervasive atmosphere that everyone is on edge under China’s totalitarian regime”, it said in a statement.

An “increasing number” of people have approached agencies in Taiwan “wishing to provide various types of information”, it said.

It added the reporting channel was based on “practices adopted by intelligence agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel”.

The NSB said it would “rigorously filter”, evaluate and follow up submissions to the platform using technology.

The bureau did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for further comment on Monday.