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Beijing expanding its propaganda efforts: OCAC chief

Beijing has been actively waging a public opinion war in the international community to reduce Taiwan's space, Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission (OCAC) Chairwoman Chang Fu-mei (張富美) said yesterday.

Chang made the remarks while briefing the legislature's Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee on the commission's activities.

She said Beijing's aim was to distort Taiwan's image.

"China's Xinhua news agency and China News Agency provide overseas media with press release services. Its CCTV also broadcasts political propaganda programs all day long to other countries in English and Chinese," she said.

"Last year, China cooperated with DISH NETWORK, the second-biggest satellite company, and provided 17 channels. In February, China began broadcasting another 11 channels via Apstar 5, which can be picked up in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand," she said.

"China wants to take the leading role in the development of the Chinese language. It is planning to establish `Confucius Institutes,' language schools teaching Chinese, in 100 places around the world," she said.

She said Beijing has been working with the the College Board in the US to provide Chinese-language learning materials for the board's Advanced Placement (AP) programs.

The AP program provides US high-school students with the chance to earn college-level credit by taking specially designed courses. Approximately 50 percent of US high schools have AP programs. Chinese is the fifth language to be included in the AP's language program.

Chang said that China's activities would make it difficult for Taiwan to promote its culture in other countries.

Chang said the OCAC has made a major effort to work with the College Board and the board has said that AP Chinese-language lessons would use both traditional and simplified characters.
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