The agencies believe the trips, with discounted accommodations, transportation and meals, were subsidised by units under China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said the person, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“Election interference has started under the name of group tours,” said a second Taiwan security official, who was briefed on the matter, adding Beijing was targeting politicians crucial to the island’s administrative systems who play key roles in shaping public opinion.
The number from the Taipei district has “increased significantly” compared with elections four years ago and registrations have been “fairly enthusiastic”, one report said.
In the investigation in the southern city of Kaohsiung, prosecutors said they believed the five trips from there were fully funded by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office.
He said external forces were trying to influence citizens in an “unprecedented fashion” and urged Taiwanese not to accept perks or instructions from Chinese authorities when travelling there.
Recent government scrutiny has prompted some politicians to be more low-key about such trips, the two officials said, with some making arrangements separately, then gathering in China.
The original article contains 767 words, the summary contains 179 words. Saved 77%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!