Taiwan’s responsible and transparent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has made the nation a leader in the Indo-Pacific region’s fight against the virus, unlike China’s disinformation campaign, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Robert Destro told the opening of a virtual workshop cohosted by Taiwan, the US and Japan on Wednesday.
The workshop — held under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), which was first initiated by Taiwan and the US in 2015 — addressed how fake news about the coronavirus is spread online and what efforts can be taken to strengthen the ability of media organizations in the Indo-Pacific region to spot fake news.
The forum was attended by Destro, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉), American Institute in Taiwan Director Brent Christensen, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Representative Hiroyasu Izumi and Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang (唐鳳), as well as nearly 80 experts from six other countries in the region and representatives from non-governmental organizations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“It is no secret that Taiwan is leading the Indo-Pacific region in its handling of COVID-19. You are serving as an inspiration for the world and we are grateful for your leadership,” Destro said, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the US government from his home in Arlington, Virginia.
“I understand that your health minister, Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), has become something of a rock star in Taiwan for those bravura performances that demonstrate true government accountability,” he said.
“The contrast with the PRC’s [People’s Republic of China] actions could not be more profound. PRC officials have been actively engaged in a disinformation campaign designed to sow confusion about the origins and impact of COVID-19 in China,” he said, encouraging the rest of the world to follow the “Taiwan model.”
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hsu said that fake news on COVID-19 has spread online like “digital wildfire” and that the danger posed by fake news is no less than the actual pandemic.
Taiwan has also noticed Chinese propaganda efforts aimed at disinformation and the rebranding of its own image, the ministry said, adding that Taiwan hopes to work with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region through this online workshop to safeguard against authoritarian regimes using fake news about the virus to undermine social stability in democratic nations.
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