# Tracking China's cross-strait bot networks against Taiwan

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.10851 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.10851/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 16 Oct 2023.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Social Theory Should Be a Structural Prior for Agentic AI: A Formal Framework for Multi-Agent Social Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.07069/) (2026)
- [What is a Social Media Bot? A Global Comparison of Bot and Human Characteristics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.00855/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The cross-strait relationship between China and Taiwan is marked by increasing hostility around potential reunification. We analyze an unattributed bot network and how repeater bots engaged in an influence campaign against Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022. We examine the message amplification tactics employed by four key bot sub-communities, the widespread dissemination of information across multiple platforms through URLs, and the potential targeted audiences of this bot network. We find that URL link sharing reveals circumvention around YouTube suspensions, in addition to the potential effectiveness of algorithmic bot connectivity to appear less bot-like, and detail a sequence of coordination within a sub-community for message amplification. We additionally find the narratives and targeted audience potentially shifting after account activity discrepancies, demonstrating how dynamic these bot networks can operate.