TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's National Security Bureau (國安局) reported Tuesday (Jan. 6) that China launched over 19,000 controversial messages and 799 abnormal accounts during military exercises near Taiwan from Dec. 29 to Jan. 2. The bureau stated that these activities, which included cyberattacks targeting Taiwan's digital infrastructure, peaked at 2.09 million attacks on the second day of the exercises. The report details China's coordinated information warfare campaign alongside the military drills conducted in waters and airspace surrounding the island.
Taiwan's legislature, the Legislative Yuan's Foreign and National Defense Committee (立法院外交及國防委員會), plans to invite several governmental departments on Thursday to discuss China's military threats. The National Security Bureau has submitted a written report to lawmakers outlining China's motives for the exercises and information warfare campaign. The report stated that China's objectives include counteracting international democratic support for Taiwan and diverting attention from internal economic and political issues.
The report highlighted a weak domestic economy in China, with a 2.6% decline in investments from January to November 2025 and a 7.5% drop in foreign investments. The bureau stated that high youth unemployment rates in China have further increased social governance risks for the Chinese government. According to the report, the Chinese government has utilized military exercises to channel public dissatisfaction into nationalism, thereby deflecting criticism against perceived external interference.
The report noted that anti-corruption campaigns in China have impacted military exercises, resulting in investigations into the activities of numerous generals in the People's Liberation Army. China showcased its military might during the Sept. 3 parade, emphasizing nuclear deterrence and new naval capabilities to offset concerns about the investigations. The recent military exercises near Taiwan, led by the new Eastern Theater Command Commander Yang Zhibin (楊志斌), aimed to demonstrate that the PLA remains unaffected by the anti-corruption probes.