Taiwanese and Chinese flags fly alongside each other at a rally in Taipei. Photo: Twitter

Government investigators say there has been a flood of fake news, and claim to have clear evidence that it originated with Beijing’s propaganda machine

Asia Times
Date: September 21, 2018
By: Asia Times Staff

Beijing has mobilized its army of online trolls and demagogues to create fake news and manipulate public views in Taiwan, according to a disclosure by investigators from the island’s Ministry of Justice.

The investigators found “unequivocal evidence” that China was behind a deluge of disinformation and planted fake news that either dug up dirt on the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DLP) or targeted President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan newspapers revealed.

In one instance, China’s state broadcaster China Central Television aired footage of military exercises held by the People’s Liberation Army years earlier in a bid to stir up panic in Taiwan. Another piece  claiming that the PLA “will reclaim Taiwan by 2020” also went viral in Taiwan: investigators traced its source to a Beijing-based website operating under the Communist Party’s propaganda department.    [FULL  STORY]