The Taiwan Research Hub and Centre for the Study of Subversion, Unconventional Interventions and Terrorism (SUIT) presents
The Green, the Blue, the Grey: Hybrid Threats and Taiwan’s Security
By Marc Lanteigne, UiT, Professor of Political Science at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø
Wednesday 12 November 2025, 12-2 pm, Room LG 106, Hallward Library, University Park
In Person Event, register at, https://forms.office.com/e/3qVe386iz7
Talk abstract
Taiwan is now facing considerable policy and ideological splits between its political parties in the wake of the 2024 elections. These divides have been exacerbated by various types of ‘grey zone’ or hybrid tactics, including disinformation, misinformation, targeted propaganda, and influence operations. China has accelerated its ‘hard power’ pressures on Taipei, including via recent military manoeuvres, and pressure on neighbouring governments, including Japan and Philippines. The PRC has also diversified its ‘non-traditional’ security operations towards Taiwan, with the goal of developing alternative narratives about the current state of cross-Strait relations while promoting the benefits of short-term unification.
To best understand this situation, and to determine how Taiwan fits into the larger study of grey zone operations, it is necessary to look at how hybrid threats are affecting Taiwan, and in which ways, from both the domestic and the systemic levels of analysis. How have windows been opened for further external influence strategies? How are the facets of Taiwanese party politics, as well as voter behaviour and Taiwan’s overall identity, being challenged? What are new sources and tools of hybrid conflict being used, and how might this affect the near-future evolution of Taiwanese security? Finally, how can other governments facing similar hybrid actions learn from the Taiwanese case?
About the Speaker
Marc Lanteigne is a Professor of Political Science at UiT: The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, and an adjunct lecturer at Ililsimatusarfik University of Greenland. His research interests include China and East Asian foreign policy, China’s engagement and cooperation with regional and international organisations, Sino-European and Sino-Polar relations, and trade politics and commercial diplomacy. He recently completed research on Taiwanese comparative economic policies at the Academia Sinica, Taipei, under the Taiwan Fellowship.
Chaired by Chaired by Dr Daniel Lomas, SUIT and Dr Chun-yi Lee, Taiwan Research Hub