Ministry of National Defense: CCP Cognitive Warfare Has Shifted from Single-Point Infiltration to Systemic Deployment

Central News Agency

(Central News Agency reporter You Kaixiang, Taipei, 4th) The Ministry of National Defense today stated that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) cognitive warfare and united front threats against Taiwan have transformed from single-point infiltration to systemic deployment. In addition to utilizing existing mechanisms for monitoring and countering by specialized units, the Ministry of National Defense will also strengthen inter-ministerial linkages for joint response and establish cooperation with allied nations in countering cognitive warfare narratives through international strategic communication, to effectively reduce its impact on Taiwan.

The Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee will invite Minister of National Defense Gu Li-xiong to deliver a work report and be questioned on May 6. The written report was delivered to the Legislative Yuan this afternoon.

Regarding the CCP threat, the Ministry of National Defense pointed out in the report that the PLA's joint exercises against Taiwan are becoming normalized, increasing the risk of "transition from exercise to war." Statistics for ROC year 114 (2025) show that the PLA deployed 3760 sorties of various main and auxiliary combat (including unmanned) aircraft (compared to about 3060 in 113/2024), frequently crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering Taiwan's southwestern and eastern airspace; various types of combat vessels operating within the response zone made about 2640 passages (compared to about 2470 in 113/2024).

The Ministry of National Defense stated that in addition to military exercises, the PLA frequently conducts law enforcement patrols in the restricted waters of outer islands and around the median line of the Taiwan Strait under false pretenses, attempting to create the illusion of "internalizing the Taiwan Strait" and denying Taiwan's jurisdiction.

Regarding military training, the Ministry of National Defense explained that to implement joint operational training, this year, in addition to the "Han Kuang Exercise," "Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise," and various service joint operational confrontation exercises, new joint operations plan rehearsals such as the "Joint Operations Plan Rehearsal" and the "Joint Defense Exercise" conducted with live forces will be added from April to July. Based on the joint operations plan, these rehearsals will continuously review command and staff operations, branch coordination, and inter-service joint mechanisms, confirming joint actions between supporting and supported units, thereby reducing various mission risks and increasing the probability of success for joint operations plans.

To effectively counter the CCP's cognitive warfare, the Ministry of National Defense explained that it has established a big data public opinion system to counter disputed misinformation in a timely manner and simultaneously notify fact-checking centers and issue news releases; it also actively combines patriotic education for officers and soldiers and national defense education for all citizens, producing programs such as "Exposing Red (CCP) Traps," "Media Literacy," and "Security and Counter-intelligence Education" to strengthen the media literacy and enemy awareness of the public and military personnel.

In addition, the Ministry of National Defense also uses multiple military and civilian communication channels to expand publicity for major military exercise achievements, new weapon and equipment acquisitions, and the image of officers and soldiers defending the country, thereby increasing "military visibility" to consolidate patriotic beliefs and gain support for defense investment, and also strengthening the psychological resilience of the public.

The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the CCP's cognitive warfare and united front threats against Taiwan have transformed from single-point infiltration to systemic deployment. In addition to utilizing existing mechanisms for monitoring and countering by specialized units, it will also strengthen inter-ministerial linkages for joint response and establish cooperation with allied nations in countering cognitive warfare narratives through international strategic communication, to effectively reduce its impact on Taiwan.

Regarding prevention of infiltration, the Ministry of National Defense stated that it will continue to expand education, establish security literacy and correct awareness among officers and soldiers, and through improving internal control mechanisms, reduce the risk of leaks (and violations) to ensure national security. (Editor: Zhang Ruoyao) 1150504

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