Taiwanese authorities have detained a journalist accused of publishing fake opinion polls on Taiwan's upcoming presidential election.

They say the reporter acted on behalf of a Chinese Communist Party committee based in the mainland's Fujian Province.

The Taiwan Taichung District Prosecutors Office placed the reporter in custody on Friday for publishing fake polls eight times across multiple online media starting in October.

The prosecutors believe the reporter distributed the fake information with the intention of influencing who people vote for.

The reporter is suspected of asking another individual to produce a series of fake polls in which more than 300 eligible voters from each of Taiwan's northern, central and southern regions took part.

But investigators say they discovered that no interviews were conducted and the candidates' approval ratings were made up.

In November, Taiwan's National Security Bureau chief told the legislature that polling agency officials had visited China after being invited by authorities in the mainland.

The security bureau is closely watching whether such organizations receive any funds from China.

Taiwan's presidential election takes place on January 13.