US Voices Concern Over China’s Attempts to Sway Taiwan Election

Brent Christensen, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, speaks in Taipei, Taiwan on Nov. 22, 2019. Fabian Hamacher/Reuters

TAIPEI—The United States is concerned about China’s attempts to influence Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary elections, the top U.S. official in Taiwan said on Nov. 22, as China stepped up pressure on the self-ruled island ahead of the vote in January.

The comment came days after Taiwan denounced China for trying to interfere in its democratic process ahead of the Jan. 11 polls, including sailing an aircraft carrier group through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday.