Exploring Chinese Military Thinking on Social Media Manipulation Against Taiwan Publication: China Brief Volume: 21 Issue: 7 April 12, 2021 01:56 PM Age: 2 days Image: Supporters of the Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Ting Shou-chung watch Taipei City mayoral election results come in on November 24, 2018 (Image source: Taiwan News). Introduction Much has been written about China’s social media manipulation in Taiwan following the 2018 nine-in-one local elections, but both Taiwanese and Western analyses have skewed heavily towards the impact of this disinformation, overlooking how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) developed its interest in social media manipulation, its planning and preparation against Taiwan specifically, and the evolution of its tactics over time.