The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is ramping up exchanges with folk religious groups in rural Taiwan in an attempt to manipulate political opinion in Beijing’s favour ahead of elections next month, according to Taiwan government documents and security officials.

Religious trips across the Taiwan Strait increased this year after the end of China’s years-long zero COVID policy, according to a review of the websites of the Chinese government, CCP-run religious groups and state media. Dozens of the trips were focused on worship of Mazu, a sea goddess whose 10 million Taiwanese worshippers make her the island’s most popular deity.

Reuters examined five Taiwanese security documents and interviewed five Taiwanese security officials, as well as five Mazu temple leaders and four analysts. They provided previously unreported details about how CCP officials tried to build ties with religious establishments with inducements such as subsidised trips to China. Some of them spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.

In response, Taiwan has stepped up monitoring of religious activities with China, including Mazu, according to the Mainland Affairs Council, the Taiwanese body responsible for ties with Beijing, and three documents seen by Reuters.

The campaign comes ahead of Taiwan’s Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections, which five Taiwanese officials said Beijing is trying to influence in favour of parties supporting closer ties with China.

The vote will define the island’s relations with Beijing - which claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan - for the next four years.