CHINA ESCALATES INTERFERENCE EFFORTS IN TAIWAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

China has escalated its interference in Taiwan's upcoming presidential election, with a top Chinese leader urging officials to enhance effectiveness and discretion, CNN reported, citing a senior Taiwanese security official.

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Wang Huning, the fourth-ranking leader in China's Communist Party and head of Taiwan affairs, reportedly convened a high-level meeting last week to coordinate efforts to influence the 13 January election.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, cited information from the Taiwanese intelligence community, saying that Wang emphasised the need to step up influence on Taiwan's public opinion while minimising detectable interference.

Wang, a longtime advisor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, was put in charge of Taiwan affairs earlier this year after he was appointed as the deputy head of the Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, a decision-making body chaired by Xi, according to CNN.