Taiwanese legislators advocate for establishments of regulations governing influencers' associations with China, to maintain national security.
Taiwan's digital landscape is under the spotlight, with lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) voicing concerns over the increasing risks to national security posed by Beijing's creeping digital influence operations.
Unveiling the Gap
Taiwan's current laws, while prohibiting cooperation with Chinese officials on sensitive political and security matters, are lacking in an effective enforcement mechanism when it comes to private individuals. This gap, according to DPP Legislator Puma Shen, presents a ripe opportunity for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to manipulate the system.
Shen referenced the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, emphasizing that the government can restrict Taiwanese citizens from engaging in corrupt relationships with Chinese officials involved in sensitive state activities. However, the act does not currently impose penalties on such individuals, leaving them unchecked.
Legislative Shift: Focus on Deterrence
Shen advocated for a legislative update that emphasizes punishment instead of preventive controls. This approach, he believed, would avoid encroaching on valuable freedoms of speech, association, and movement.
The Need for Reinforcements
Shen also questioned the administrative capacity of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), suggesting that it should not be the sole agency responsible for regulating cross-strait engagements and reviewing interaction applications.
Reinforcing the Anti-Infiltration Act
Fellow DPP Legislator Michelle Lin raised concerns about China's evolving media infiltration tactics, such as the covert ownership of platforms like Taiwan Reports, Eagle Eye Daily, and We Truth News by the state-run Fujian Broadcast and Television Network. Lin called for the National Security Bureau and MAC to collaborate more closely, amend existing legislation, and tighten financial oversight to prevent foreign interference.
A Balancing Act
As Taiwan ramps up its efforts to secure its digital borders, striking a delicate balance between safeguarding national security and preserving individual freedoms will be crucial. From addressing the spread of disinformation by micro-influencers to combating e-commerce influence, Taiwan's evolution in this digital battlefield is a work in progress.
[1] Taipei Times. (2023, June 1). DPP calls for legal reform to regulate online influencers' contact with Chinese officials. Retrieved from https://www.taipeitimes.com/news/taiwan/archives/2023/06/01/2003776896
[2] Focus Taiwan. (2023, June 1). Taiwan lawmakers call for urgent legal reforms to regulate online influencers' contact with Chinese officials. Retrieved from https://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/202306010038.aspx
[3] The Straits Times. (2023, April 15). Taiwan expels Chinese social media influencer over online posts advocating unification. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/world/east-asia/taiwan-expels-chinese-social-media-influencer-over-online-posts-advocating-unification
[4] South China Morning Post. (2023, May 4). Taiwan's foreign minister condemns China's 'disinformation' ahead of key election. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3194140/taiwans-foreign-minister-condemns-chinas-disinformation-ahead-key
[5] The Diplomat. (2023, April 8). Taiwan's New Battlefront: Countering China's E-Commerce Influence. Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/taiwans-new-battlefront-countering-chinas-e-commerce-influence/
- The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers vent their opinion on the need for a more stringent policy-and-legislation to curb Chinese influence operations, particularly in the online realm, pointing out the current legislative gap that allows private individuals to form corrupt relationships with Chinese officials.
- Focusing on the need for a shift in the enforcement approach, DPP Legislator Puma Shen advocated for a legislative update that emphasizes punishment instead of preventive controls to deter potential threats without infringing on the general-news freedom of speech, association, and movement.
- In the wake of increasing concerns over China's news manipulation tactics, fellow DPP Legislator Michelle Lin suggested amending legislation, improving collaboration between the National Security Bureau and the Mainland Affairs Council, and tightening financial oversight to combat foreign interference and maintain national security.
