Global experts and the Taiwan-based NGO Doublethink Lab met in Taipei to examine the expanding reach of Beijing's influence operations.

The gathering, titled "China in the World 2026" [1], highlights the increasing complexity of how China projects power beyond its borders through non-traditional means. As these tactics evolve, international observers seek to understand the mechanisms used to shape global narratives and pressure foreign governments.

Participants at the forum focused on several key pillars of Beijing's strategy. These include the use of disinformation and cognitive warfare to manipulate public perception in various regions. The experts also analyzed transnational repression, the practice of reaching across borders to silence or intimidate dissidents, and the role of economic coercion in securing diplomatic alignment.

Beyond traditional diplomacy, the forum addressed the intersection of emerging technology and influence. This includes how digital tools are leveraged to amplify specific narratives or monitor targets abroad. The discussions aimed to create a comprehensive map of how these disparate tactics work in tandem to expand China's global footprint.

Doublethink Lab organized the event to bring together a diverse group of international specialists. By sharing data and case studies, the forum sought to develop a collective understanding of how to identify and counter these operations. The focus remained on the systemic nature of these influence campaigns and their impact on democratic institutions worldwide.

“The forum examined the growing global reach of Beijing's influence operations.”

The convening of the "China in the World 2026" forum underscores a growing international effort to systematize the tracking of 'gray zone' tactics. By focusing on cognitive warfare and transnational repression, the forum signals that the primary conflict between China and other global powers is shifting toward the information and psychological domains, where the goal is not territorial gain but the erosion of institutional trust and the coercion of political will.