China is using fake “pro-Taiwan” accounts on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, to spread misinformation and incite social division as a part of its evolving information warfare against Taiwan, national security experts said yesterday.
A previous National Security Bureau report said that China is using artificial intelligence to help generate and spread misinformation.
In the first three months of this year, 510,000 controversial messages and 3,600 abnormal accounts were found, most originating from China, the report said.
Photo: Screen grab from Douyin
China has been spreading short videos on Douyin and Facebook that vilify President William Lai (賴清德), including one video that falsely depicts Lai dancing and celebrating while a storm brings disaster to southern Taiwan, apparently in reference to last month’s Typhoon Danas and heavy rains in the south over the past few weeks, sources said.
Meanwhile, a Douyin account called “sb.taiwan Treasure Island Diary TEAM TAIWAN” has been posing as “pro-Taiwan,” posting numerous controversial messages, some using simplified Chinese characters, they said.
Some of the videos claimed that Taiwanese soldiers were eager to defend Taiwan, much like Ukrainian soldiers, and said that “President Lai, Taiwan is ready.”
Other videos expressed support for the recall election on Aug. 23, saying that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), which it called the Taiwan branch of the Chinese Communist Party, should stop causing chaos in Taiwan and that Chinese causing problems in Taiwan should return home.
Some of the account’s videos said the US is getting closer with Taiwan, showing a photograph of Lai in US President Donald Trump’s office, but with Lai’s hairstyle altered to look like that of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
An official familiar with China’s “united front” tactics said that China is using “imposters” in its information warfare against Taiwan.
The approach makes it difficult for people to identify or refute such indirect and disguised propaganda videos, which are hard to distinguish as legitimate, the official said.
“Imposter” content needs to be promptly addressed and misinformation clarified, they said.
Some posts that claim the government expelled Chinese nationals or revoked their Taiwanese residency appear to take a pro-Taiwan stance, but include misinformation and false legal references, they said.
The tactic is designed to stir emotions in people online, to incite division in Taiwanese society, and undermine public trust in and support for the government, they said.
People might temper their emotions after discovering the claims are untrue, but over time they might feel that the government is doing nothing about the issue, they added.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS