Taiwan on Friday warned its citizens against working for China-based media outlets with links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). A controversy erupted after a Taiwanese journalist was found working for a Chinese media and asked questions to the US President on behalf of China.
The Taiwanese authorities threatened legal action against such individuals who were found working for China-based media outlets, reports a Taiwanese media outlet.
According to the report, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwan’s top agency in charge of cross-strait relations, reiterated in a statement that it is unlawful for Taiwanese nationals to work for Chinese political or military agencies, whatever is the status of their employment.
The MAC comments pointed to a case involving Chang Ching-yi a reporter from Taiwan who works in Washington D.C. for Shanghai-based Dragon TV, who replied to U.S. President Donald Trump in an April 8 White House news conference when questioned on where he was from, that he was from Taiwan after he raised questions on the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Chang’s comments triggered responses from both sides of the strait. Some Chinese netizens accused Chang of being pro-Taiwan independence; some in Taiwan criticized him for working for a Chinese media, while others expressed concern that he will not be the last victim of what they described as a “witch hunt” by the Taiwanese authorities.
“We will invite the reporter in question to provide an explanation,” MAC Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said Friday.
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