China’s Propaganda and Disinformation Operations in Taiwan: A Sharp Power Perspective

Abstract:This article constructs a theory of sharp power based on the realist view of international relations to explain how Chinese authoritarianism fosters the government’s external sharp power propaganda targeting Taiwan. The case studies examine China’s long-established financial operations and more recent disinformation operations against Taiwan to show that the propaganda has (i) created asymmetric exchanges of capital and information between China and Taiwan; (ii) mobilised local Taiwanese collaborators with both economic incentives and biased information; and (iii) promoted the viewpoint that authoritarianism is superior to democracy.