cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/18210661

• Taiwan is acting against media organizations operating in the country that are affiliated with the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) party-state.
• In early January, Taiwan’s government revoked the operating license of the magazine Strait Herald following revelations about its influence and infiltration activities.
• A sharp increase in disinformation targeting Taiwan in 2024 has prompted robust countermeasures, legislative reforms, enhanced cognitive warfare defenses, and international collaboration to combat PRC influence operations.
• Calls to improve Taiwan’s national security framework, including by setting up courts dedicated to prosecuting espionage and infiltration cases, indicate how vulnerable Taiwan remains to digital and media influence operations.

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There are currently eight PRC media outlets operating in Taiwan with 12 correspondents, according to recent reporting. These include People’s Daily (人民日报), Xinhua News Agency (新华社), China Central Television (CCTV; 中央电视台), China National Radio (中央人民广播电台), China News Service (CNS;中新社), Xiamen Media Group (厦门卫视), Strait Herald (海峡导报), and Hunan Broadcasting System (湖南广电) (VOA, January 3). Although they ostensibly function as independent media organizations, all are party–state-controlled entities aligned with CCP strategic interests and objectives.

These outlets reinforce the Party’s propaganda strategy in Taiwan. Among them, six—People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, China National Radio, CNS, and Hunan Broadcasting System—fall under the centralized management of the CCP’s Propaganda Department. Xinhua serves as Beijing’s primary news agency and global propaganda arm, while the People’s Daily operates as the official newspaper of the CCP, amplifying its policies and political messaging. CCTV and China National Radio are central broadcasters tasked with spreading pro-Beijing narratives. CNS, though smaller, is integral to united front operations, engaging in partnerships with Taiwanese organizations to subtly influence public opinion.

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