China’s defence ministry on Thursday accused Taiwan’s leadership of “hyping up” claims that Beijing is interfering in the self-ruled island’s upcoming presidential election.
Taipei officials have repeatedly raised concerns about election interference and misinformation, and the January 13 vote comes during an escalating pressure campaign by Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory.
But on Thursday Beijing said “the DPP authorities have been hyping up that China’s mainland is interfering in its elections”, using the initials of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
Defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told a press conference Taipei was trying to “stoke confrontation and manipulate the election”.
Several Chinese balloons have been detected moving across the sensitive median line separating Taiwan from China throughout December, Taipei…
