Keeping Taiwan’s National Security in the Mind’s Eye

Under Xi Jinping, China’s strategy toward Taiwan has evolved beyond traditional deterrence into a comprehensive political warfare campaign designed to reshape the nation’s cognitive landscape. This brief examines Beijing’s dual-track approach: a digital offensive using AI and disinformation to erode democratic confidence, alongside gray zone economic and administrative integration strategies meant to blur the boundaries of Taiwanese governance. By tracing these mechanisms, the analysis highlights how Beijing aims to normalize unification through attrition rather than force. It concludes by assessing Taiwan’s counter-strategies, arguing that effective defense now requires moving beyond reactive regulation to foster deep-seated societal and institutional resilience.