Sat Oct 11 06:57:35 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, with a focus on the Indian perspective and drawing from the suggested sections of “The Hindu”:

**Headline: China Offers Bounties for Taiwanese “Separatists,” Escalating Tensions Across Strait**

**Beijing/Taipei, October 11, 2025 (The Hindu) –** Tensions between China and Taiwan flared anew this weekend as Beijing announced rewards for information leading to the arrest of 18 individuals it claims are Taiwanese military psychological operations (PsyOp) officers. This latest move follows Taiwan’s renewed pledge to bolster its defenses and underscores the increasingly fraught relationship between the two nations.

The public security bureau in Xiamen, a Chinese city facing Taiwan, accused the 18 individuals of spreading separatist messages through disinformation campaigns, seditious games, and manipulated public opinion. Rewards of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,402) are being offered for tips leading to their capture. Chinese state news agency Xinhua further alleged the individuals were working with “external forces” to incite secession.

Taipei swiftly condemned the move, dismissing the accusations as “despotic and pig-headed thinking” from an authoritarian regime attempting to conduct “cognitive warfare” against the island. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry stated that protecting national security is the duty of its military personnel and that China fabricates this information.

The announcement comes on the heels of Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te’s commitment to strengthen the island’s defenses and his call for China to renounce the use of force. China responded with fury, labeling Lai a “troublemaker and a war-maker.” This latest incident echoes a similar event in June 2025, when China offered bounties for alleged Taiwanese military hackers.

**Indian Perspective:** This ongoing escalation between China and Taiwan is being closely watched in India. As reported by “The View From India,” China’s increasing assertiveness in the region raises concerns about regional stability and potential implications for India’s own security environment. Furthermore, as detailed in “Data Point,” the incident highlights the growing importance of information warfare and the need for vigilance against disinformation campaigns, an issue of increasing relevance in the Indian context as well.

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