Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen warns citizens to be on guard against China-backed media ‘infiltration’, citing Reuters report
- Reuters cited evidence that Chinese authorities had paid at least five Taiwan media groups for coverage to sway popular sentiment
- The commissioning of such items by China is potentially explosive as 2020 presidential election approaches
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen urged citizens to stay on alert for Chinese-financed media “infiltration” after a Reuters report of a Beijing-backed media campaign in the self-ruled island which China considers its own.
Tsai said on Saturday the Reuters report confirmed growing concerns over Chinese attempts to influence press coverage on the island.
“The story to some extent confirmed that these concerns aren’t baseless,” Tsai told reporters in the southern city of Kaohsiung.
“The Chinese infiltration in Taiwan is actually omnipresent and we hope that all citizens could stay on high alert for such infiltration, which includes fake news,” Tsai added.
The report cited evidence that Chinese authorities had paid at least five Taiwan media groups for coverage in various publications and on a television channel in a campaign to sway popular sentiment in the island.
The placement of stories by companies and special interests is common in Taiwan, yet the commissioning of such items by China is potentially explosive on the island, which is increasingly sensitive about mainland efforts to influence opinion.