United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) yesterday said the Chinese Ministry of State Security was behind a smear campaign to suggest he had an extramarital affair, adding that Beijing is working through proxies to interfere in Taiwan’s elections and recall processes.
Tsao said he has come under attack since he spearheaded a recall movement to oust Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers, including leading a petition drive to recall KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯).
He wrote online that the Chinese government and the state security agency was circulating doctored images of him with a young woman and was collaborating with political commentator Hsieh Han-ping (謝寒冰) to accuse Tsao of having an extramarital affair in 2015, while working in China.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Tsao offered a NT$10 million (US$305,717) reward for anyone providing information leading to the arrest of leaders or organizers of the Chinese ministry’s networks and to crack down on their subversive activities in Taiwan.
He said someone from the US told him the Chinese agency planned the smear campaign, as the accusations and circulation of the image followed China’s “united front” tactics and propaganda strategies.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) has asked national security agencies to investigate the case.
DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said the Chinese government was seeking to interfere in Taiwan’s elections.
“Our society must establish strong defense mechanisms, to fight against these Chinese proxies and hostile forces, knowing their pro-China propaganda and tactics would escalate in scope and intensity. We urge people not to back down, but to stand up with courage and resolutely support Taiwan, to defend our democracy and freedom,” Wu said.
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