Taiwan Opens Intelligence Hotline for Chinese Citizens — Beijing Threatens Retaliation

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Taiwan Opens a Door for Disenchanted Chinese

Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB) unveiled a new online platform on Sunday, June 14, designed to give Chinese nationals a secure way to pass intelligence information to Taiwanese authorities. The agency says it is responding to a steady increase in people from mainland China who have been approaching Taiwanese officials on their own initiative — people who, in the NSB's own words, are "fed up with China's system and want change."

Taiwan says the platform follows established practices already used by intelligence agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel. The website is blocked inside China, but that barrier is easily bypassed: millions of Chinese citizens regularly use VPNs (virtual private networks — tools that allow access to otherwise blocked websites) to reach foreign news sites and social media platforms.

Beijing Hits Back — But Offers No Details

China's response was swift and harsh. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, accused Taiwan of engaging in espionage, sabotage and infiltration — and called the new platform evidence of what he described as Taipei's "confrontational mindset" and support for Taiwanese independence.

"We strongly condemn this and will resolutely take countermeasures," Chen stated at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. He did not specify what those countermeasures would be.

Chen also warned Chinese citizens directly: those who pass intelligence to Taiwan's security services in a way that violates Chinese law will face criminal prosecution. "The relevant departments will pursue legal responsibility in accordance with the law," he said.

A Long-Running Intelligence War

Espionage between Taiwan and China is nothing new. Both sides have operated intelligence networks targeting the other for decades. What has changed in recent years is the scale and intensity — particularly in one direction.

Taiwan's NSB reported that the number of individuals prosecuted on the island for Chinese espionage jumped from 16 cases in 2021 to 64 cases in 2024. Beijing has attempted to infiltrate Taiwan's military, government agencies, and civil society groups. In 2024, 15 retired military personnel and 28 active-duty service members were among those prosecuted for passing information to China.

China has also run its own public reporting systems. In 2024, Beijing published an email address where citizens could report alleged crimes by Taiwan "separatists." A dedicated online platform for reporting so-called "Taiwan independence" activities was launched in March 2025 — and had already received over 3,000 submissions within weeks.

Growing Discontent Inside China as a Driver

Taiwan's NSB did not frame the new website purely in terms of national security. Its official statement pointed to structural problems inside China as a key reason why more people may be willing to cooperate: a weakening economy, tightening political control, and rising public frustration with living conditions.

"In recent years, China's economy has faced mounting difficulties, while political control has remained tight," the NSB stated. "Coupled with a growing range of social and livelihood-related problems, these conditions have fueled public discontent."

The suggestion is clear: Taipei believes there is a growing pool of people inside China who may be willing to speak — if given a safe channel to do so.

Taiwan Rejects Beijing's Claims — And Its Threats

Taiwan's government maintains that the island is a self-governing democracy and that only its own people can determine its future. Taipei rejects Beijing's claim to sovereignty over Taiwan entirely.

The backdrop to this latest confrontation is one of heightened military and political tension. China has conducted large-scale military exercises near Taiwan in recent months. Taiwan's armed forces have responded with their own demonstrations of defensive capability. When U.S. President Donald Trump visited Beijing in May for a summit with President Xi Jinping, Xi made clear that Taiwan remains the most sensitive issue between the two powers — and one that could lead to direct conflict if mishandled.

Beijing's latest threat of "countermeasures" adds another layer to an already volatile situation. Whether those countermeasures will amount to anything concrete — or remain, as before, a warning without follow-through — remains to be seen.

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Sources:

1. Reuters, June 17, 2026 – China threatens countermeasures over Taiwan intelligence website: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-it-will-take-countermeasures-new-taiwan-intelligence-gathering-site-2026-06-17/
2. AP / PBS NewsHour, June 14, 2026 – Taiwan's NSB launches webpage for Chinese nationals: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/taiwans-intelligence-agency-launches-webpage-for-chinese-nationals-to-report-tips
3. Taiwan NSB espionage statistics via CNA / GlobalSecurity.org, January 2025: https://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/news/2025/intell-250112-cna01.htm
4. China's "Taiwan independence" reporting platform, April 2025: https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/taiwan/taiwan-250416-pdo01.htm

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