Chinese police have offered rewards of up to $1,400 for information leading to 18 Taiwanese military officers accused of conducting psychological operations and spreading 'separatist' messages, Reuters reported, reports News.bg.
The move comes a day after Taiwan announced plans to boost its defense capabilities.
China considers democratically-ruled Taiwan its territory, despite strong objections from the Taipei government, and has been increasing military and political pressure on the island in recent years.
The Public Security Bureau in the Chinese city of Xiamen, located across the Taiwan Strait from Taiwan, said the 18 individuals are key members of the Taiwanese military's "psychological warfare unit." Their photos, names and Taiwanese ID numbers have been released.
According to the bureau, the unit is involved in activities such as disinformation, intelligence gathering, psychological warfare and propaganda dissemination.
"They have long planned to incite separatist activities," the bureau said, adding that rewards of up to 10,000 yuan (about $1,401.74) were being offered for information leading to their arrest.
According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the individuals in question have launched smear campaign websites, created inflammatory games, produced fake video content, operated illegal radio stations and manipulated public opinion using “foreign forces“.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense described the allegations as an expression of “the despotic and stubborn thinking of an authoritarian regime that seeks to divide our people, belittle our government and wage cognitive warfare“.
The ministry added that China has repeatedly published similar reports that “use the free flow of information in our democratic society to assemble and fabricate personal data“.
“Protecting national security and safeguarding the safety and well-being of the people is the inalienable duty of every military officer and soldier“, the ministry stressed, noting that this paves the way for “proportionate and targeted“ interventions.
According to observers, the search is largely symbolic, as Taiwan's intelligence officials do not openly visit mainland China, and China's legal system has no jurisdiction over the island.
Yesterday, President Lai Ching-te pledged greater efforts to strengthen Taiwan's defenses and urged China to abandon the use of force to seize the island. Beijing responded sharply, calling Lai a "problem person" and a "warmonger."
In June this year, China announced a similar reward for the arrest of 20 people it said were Taiwanese military hackers. Taipei rejected the threat, saying it would not be intimidated.