‘This might work,’ quipped one Chinese internet user, ‘because PLA soldiers might die from laughing too hard.’
The News Lens
Date: 2019/04/17
By: Milo Hsieh
Credit: CNA
On April 14, Taiwan’s military announced its newest weapon in times of war: food with prints in simplified Chinese calling upon recipients to defect.
An assortment of food items such as Oreos, caramel candies, Choco Pies, egg rolls, and bottled water were presented in a press conference as Taiwan’s newest tool of cognitive warfare. There is one difference – their brands are replaced with “Surrender” (投誠) instead of the their typical names.
“Surrender Brand” instant noodles bring a familiar Taiwanese flavor to a potential battlefield. Printed in simplified Chinese is: “Please leave this instant noodle package and put down your weapons / Surrender to the ROC army / We promise to provide hot water and safety.”
“Surrender Brand” egg rolls call upon the recipient to follow five steps to surrender:
- Put down your weapons
- Raise both hands
- Hold this box of egg rolls
- Surrender
- Go home to be with your families
In a report by TVBS News, several randomly selected interviewees laughed upon seeing the program. This juxtaposes with the seriousness with which the Ministry of National Defense Cognitive Warfare Section head Wang Yi-hung (王宜弘) presented the program. According to Wang, the use of this program has no specific target. Though based on the use of simplified Chinese, one would not see that the use is for none other than on Chinese soldiers. [FULL STORY]
