Taiwan probes organised crime links to China’s ‘transnational repression’

Taiwan is investigating potential ties between organised crime and China's attempts to carry out transnational repression, according to a security official. The island's government claims Beijing was responsible for an attack on a comedian who mocked President Xi Jinping. Taiwan's National Security Bureau director-general Tsai Ming-yen said the local networks involved in such incidents are predominantly criminal gangs or private investigation firms linked to organised crime.

The bureau is primarily concerned about whether any individuals within these groups are directed and funded by the Chinese Communist Party.

Tsai stressed that dismantling the entire criminal network is a key focus of the investigation. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment on the comedian's attack. Other critics of China in Taiwan have also faced attacks, including Hong Kong singer and activist Denise Ho, who was targeted in Taipei in 2019 by a masked man who threw red paint at her.

Tsai suggested that Taiwan may need to amend its laws to better address China's transnational repression activities in its democratic and rule-of-law society. Taiwan has been experiencing increased pressure from China, including in the waters surrounding the island where both Chinese military and Coast Guard forces operate daily.

Tsai expressed particular concern about the appearance of Chinese militia boats to Taiwan's east and southwest, noting that they are more commonly seen in the South China Sea, making their presence near Taiwan significant.

The US State Department recently described China's actions off Taiwan's east coast as "deeply destabilising," exacerbating tensions after Reuters reported the first known sighting of a Chinese militia boat in those waters. Taiwan officials suspect China is preparing for a potential maritime blockade using a combination of military, paramilitary, and civilian assets.

China maintains that its operations off Taiwan's east coast are "legitimate and lawful" as they occur within Chinese waters, a stance Taiwan's government firmly rejects.