Taiwan Prosecutors Target Foreign Election Interference, Focus on New Residents' Votes

Taiwan's Taipei District Prosecutors Office is intensifying efforts to safeguard upcoming local elections from foreign interference, particularly focusing on the significant voting bloc of new residents. With nearly 310,000 of Taiwan's over 600,000 new residents eligible to cast ballots, prosecutors are working closely with immigration agencies to prevent bribery and detect suspicious financial activities.

Prosecutors, led by Chief Prosecutor Wang Chun-li, met with the Immigration Agency's Northern Region Affairs Brigade to bolster anti-bribery campaigns and intelligence collection among new residents. The goal is to identify and thwart any attempts by external forces to influence the elections, effectively blocking infiltration at the border. Immigration agencies are considered crucial partners in election monitoring, playing a vital role in past campaigns.

Discussions included reports from Taipei and New Taipei City's special investigation teams on their anti-bribery efforts and intelligence gathering. Chief Prosecutor Li Chung-jen briefed the team on key election investigation priorities, fostering collaboration and sharing strategies to counter potential interference tactics. The prosecutors reviewed past election cases, noting the Northern Region Affairs Brigade's involvement in several bribery investigations.

Wang emphasized that combating foreign interference is a comprehensive effort to protect national security. He urged immigration agencies to remain vigilant at the border and collaborate with other investigative bodies for intelligence sharing and joint analysis. Given the anticipated increase in interference methods and intensity due to the numerous elections and candidates this year, frontline investigators are tasked with actively uncovering clues of foreign influence and abnormal funding to ensure a fair and just electoral environment.

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Combating foreign interference is a total war to maintain national security. Immigration agencies should guard the border and implement intelligence sharing and joint analysis with other investigative agencies.