Propaganda remains a persistent challenge to Taiwan’s democracy, particularly in the lead-up to local elections. China, a country known for its military tensions with the island nation and its attempts at foreign influence, is a highly likely source of electoral interference, notably by disseminating misleading information. For this third article of the three-part series The Propaganda Playbook, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) interviewed Brian Hioe, a Taipei-based journalist and founding editor of New Bloom, which covers Taiwanese politics and social movements, about how these tactics are evolving and how journalists can identify and report on disinformation without inadvertently amplifying it.
RSF: How is the Chinese disinformation targeting Taiwan changing?
Brian Hioe: Chinese disinformation is becoming more localised. In the past, some narratives could be easier to identify because they used vocabulary or expressions that were unusual in Taiwan. When Taiwanese influencers or other local actors adapt and circulate these narratives, their origins become much less obvious.
AI-generated content is another growing concern. Videos can make President Lai Ching-te or other officials appear to admit wrongdoing or criticise their own party, even when they never said these things.
RSF: What makes these narratives particularly difficult to identify?
Brian Hioe: They often build on something that is already happening or on a genuine political controversy. A fabricated claim can therefore appear credible because it fits an existing narrative.
This is also why disinformation does not necessarily need to be completely false to be effective. A real event can be presented without context, or a genuine fact can be used to support a conclusion that the evidence does not justify. Sometimes, it is not merely a matter of disinformation that draws on falsified or incorrect information, but arranging real information into a political narrative.
RSF: What should journalists check when they encounter a suspicious claim?
Brian Hioe: Start with the original source. Check when and where the information first appeared, who produced it and whether the original material supports the claim being made.
For videos and images, look for the original version and check whether independent sources confirm what it supposedly shows. For political claims, distinguish between what has actually happened and what someone predicts or argues will happen. Political polls in Taiwan, for example, are commonly released by media outlets with the aim of impacting elections outcomes, rather than simply reflecting public opinion.
RSF: What mistakes should journalists avoid when covering disinformation?
Brian Hioe: One mistake is assuming that something is credible because it is widely circulated. Another is assuming that a claim is Chinese disinformation simply because it benefits China.
Journalists should establish the origin and circulation of a claim before making that connection. They should also avoid reproducing a false claim unnecessarily. Reporting on disinformation can itself give the claim greater visibility.
RSF: What advice would you give Taiwanese journalists?
Brian Hioe: Pay particular attention to claims that confirm an existing political controversy or fear. A claim shared by a Taiwanese influencer can appear more credible because it uses familiar language and comes from a local source, but that does not make it accurate.
Check the source, context and evidence before publishing. And when reporting on a false claim is necessary, provide enough context to make clear what has been verified and what has not. The clickbait nature of much journalism, however, often contributes to such issues, with many Taiwanese media outlets sourcing content from social media without verification because of the desire for quick views and clicks.
RSF: What advice would you give foreign journalists covering Taiwan?
Brian Hioe: Do not look at Taiwan’s information environment only through the US-China relationship. Chinese disinformation increasingly draws on local political controversies and domestic concerns, so understanding the local context is essential. It is all too common for international media to simply assume that everything in Taiwanese politics returns to cross-strait relations, or to try and explain Taiwanese politics solely int his frame.
International journalists should also be careful not to assume that information is reliable simply because it comes from a Taiwanese source. Narratives originating from China can be adapted and circulated by local actors.
RSF: What is the one rule journalists should keep in mind during the election campaign?
Brian Hioe: Do not confuse circulation with credibility. A claim being repeated widely does not make it true, and a claim coming from a local source does not necessarily make it reliable. China, after all, conducts extensive outreach precisely to influence local and international outreach, and that involves cultivating local actors to be part of influence operations.
Go back to the original source, check the context and verify the evidence before amplifying it.
Brian Hioe is an independent journalist based in Taipei, Taiwan, covering Taiwanese politics, social movements and wider East Asian affairs for international audiences. He is a founding editor of New Bloom, an online magazine focusing on Taiwanese politics and social movements. He is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the University of Nottingham’s Taiwan Studies Programme and a board member of the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club.
More resources
- The Propaganda Monitor — China: Investigations into Chinese propaganda and its influence on global media.
- Decoding Online Disinformation: Resources for understanding and investigating online disinformation.
- Dealing with Deepfakes: Practical advice on identifying deepfakes, responding to attacks targeting journalists, and supporting affected journalists.