Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Thursday last week published its “2026 Press Freedom Index” report. Taiwan was ranked 28th worldwide and first in Asia, far ahead of South Korea at 47th and Japan at 62nd. Since 2024, Taiwan has consistently come in the top 30 — a significant achievement that should bring everyone pride. Hong Kong, once a beacon of press freedom in the Asia-Pacific region, fell to 140th from its zenith at 18th in 2002. China remained, as ever, at the bottom of the rankings at 178th out of 180 countries this year and last, ahead only of Eritrea and North Korea.
While affirming Taiwan’s protection of press freedoms in the index ranking, RSF issued a warning to the public in the form of a report released last month, titled “How a Chinese marketing network quietly injects political narratives into Taiwanese lifestyle content.” Its investigation showed how a swathe of social media profiles appearing to be lifestyle pages for hobbies and health tips are, in fact, tied to China-based digital marketing companies. They blend entertainment with disinformation and political messaging in cognitive warfare campaigns that are difficult to detect.
The Facebook page “50+ Healthy Life” is cited as an example, which provides health and wellness advice for older people. In March, it published a peculiar long-form analysis after the US joined Israel in waging war on Iran, presenting an argument closely aligned with Chinese state media that Tehran need not defeat Washington militarily. The post was later removed.
Similarly, during the 2024 presidential election, a number of apolitical pages centered on health, hobbies or inspirational quotes started disseminating political content echoing Chinese propaganda. One such example was the Facebook page “Classic Quotes,” which began by openly promoting the candidacy of China-friendly billionaire Terry Gou (郭台銘). After the election, the pages reverted to lifestyle content.
Their method is consistent: They first build audiences on platforms such as Facebook, Threads and X through nonpolitical or “soft” content. Once they have expanded their reach and influence, they introduce political posts to shape public perception, then rinse and repeat. Although seemingly insignificant, the impact on the public consciousness in Taiwan runs deep.
RSF investigations director Arnaud Froger issued a warning in the report: “These social media lifestyle accounts, which look harmless and apolitical, are actually managed — and, at times, mobilized — by a private actor close to the Chinese state and are intended to be channels of influence. Less overt than operations conducted through state institutions, these decentralised campaigns that insert ideological content in sudden bursts are also harder to detect.”
Over time, the primary source of information for Taiwanese has shifted from traditional sources to social platforms such as Facebook and LINE. Casually sharing short videos, health tips and current affairs commentary has become the norm. While seemingly harmless, the expansion of these platforms in the media ecosystem has created openings for confusion, rumors, social division and even national security threats.
The RSF’s warning should serve as a wake-up call to be alert to what we are seeing and hearing, and guard our judgement and critical thinking. We must resist the influence of misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric, and refuse to become unwitting accomplices in its spread.
Only by defending the right of all people to access reliable information and by safeguarding freedom of the press can Taiwan preserve its democracy and maintain its de facto independence.
Yao Meng-chang is an assistant professor in Fu Jen Catholic University’s Department of Postgraduate Legal Studies.
Translated by Gilda Knox Streader
The cancelation this week of President William Lai’s (賴清德) state visit to Eswatini, after the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius revoked overflight permits under Chinese pressure, is one more measure of Taiwan’s shrinking executive diplomatic space. Another channel that deserves attention keeps growing while the first contracts. For several years now, Taipei has been one of Europe’s busiest legislative destinations. Where presidents and foreign ministers cannot land, parliamentarians do — and they do it in rising numbers. The Italian parliament opened the year with its largest bipartisan delegation to Taiwan to date: six Italian deputies and one senator, drawn from six
Recently, Taipei’s streets have been plagued by the bizarre sight of rats running rampant and the city government’s countermeasures have devolved into an anti-intellectual farce. The Taipei Parks and Street Lights Office has attempted to eradicate rats by filling their burrows with polyurethane foam, seeming to believe that rats could not simply dig another path out. Meanwhile, as the nation’s capital slowly deteriorates into a rat hive, the Taipei Department of Environmental Protection has proudly pointed to the increase in the number of poisoned rats reported in February and March as a sign of success. When confronted with public concerns over young
Taiwan and India are important partners, yet this reality is increasingly being overshadowed in current debates. At a time when Taiwan-India relations are at a crossroads, with clear potential for deeper engagement and cooperation, the labor agreement signed in February 2024 has become a source of friction. The proposal to bring in 1,000 migrant workers from India is already facing significant resistance, with a petition calling for its “indefinite suspension” garnering more than 40,000 signatures. What should have been a straightforward and practical step forward has instead become controversial. The agreement had the potential to serve as a milestone in
China has long given assurances that it would not interfere in free access to the global commons. As one Ministry of Defense spokesperson put it in 2024, “the Chinese side always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight entitled to countries under international law.” Although these reassurances have always been disingenuous, China’s recent actions display a blatant disregard for these principles. Countries that care about civilian air safety should take note. In April, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) canceled a planned trip to Eswatini for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s coronation and the 58th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic
RSS