Taiwanese who accept money from foreign sources to start a political party could undermine national security and contravene anti-infiltration laws, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday in response to reports that entertainers and celebrities had been solicited to join a political party with alleged Chinese backing.
Singer Alexis Ho (何以奇) and musician Hsieh Ho-hsien (謝和弦) said that they were among the Taiwanese entertainers who received a letter urging them to join a political party allegedly backed by NT$450 million (US$13.9 million) from overseas sources.
The ministry said in a statement that anyone who forms a political party or develops a networking organization at the direction of foreign entities or with financial support from abroad could contravene the National Security Act (國家安全法) or the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法).
Photo: Huang Hsin-po, Taipei Times
The National Security Act prohibits “initiating, funding, hosting, manipulating, directing or developing an organization” for “a foreign country, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, foreign hostile forces or various organizations, institutions, or groups established or substantially controlled by them,” the ministry said.
It added that under Articles 3 and 4 of the Anti-Infiltration Act, anyone who gives funds or receives donations to engage in elections, recall campaigns or referendums at the instruction or commission of “sources of infiltration” face a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to NT$10 million.
The ministry urged people to refuse solicitations from China to engage in political activities, which it said would make the participants “pawns in Chinese ‘united front’ tactics against Taiwan,” and also put them at risk of prosecution.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers said it is no secret that Taiwanese entertainers and social media influencers were making money from endorsement deals in China or being paid to promote tourism there or appear on TV shows.
Such entertainers and influencers should be required to inform their viewers about their Chinese sponsors in their YouTube and social media content, DPP Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) said.
“Many of them are traveling to China to produce propaganda, making videos showing how ‘wonderful’ China is, how enjoyable their experiences there are and how safe its cities are. It is because they receive money from their ‘Chinese sugar daddy’ to endorse the country as a commercial product,” Lin said.
She said Taiwanese influencers were essentially being paid to create pro-China content.
“Our government must come up with measures to require influencers to reveal their financing and the sources behind their videos,” she said.
DPP Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) said that Beijing’s “united front” tactics have permeated the entertainment industry and cultural sectors.
“Through the promise of earning money and access to China’s market, Beijing is attracting Taiwanese entertainers and social media influencers,” Lai said. “Now, China is cultivating these figures to form a political party and to run in local elections in an attempt to alter Taiwan’s political landscape.”
“It is the long-term goal of the Chinese government to reach into and manipulate Taiwan’s political process,” he said. “Agencies in charge of national security must monitor the development and take a pro-active approach. If people are found to have contravened the law, then they must be investigated right way.”
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