TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP lawmaker Puma Shen (沈伯洋) shared Taiwan’s experience in countering authoritarian disinformation at a German parliament hearing on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media afterward, Shen said the hearing mainly focused on European cases of disinformation and infiltration, CNA reported. It was jointly hosted by several major German political parties and invited experts from various countries to discuss how authoritarian states use disinformation to undermine democratic systems, he said.
Participants examined disinformation campaigns by Hungary and Russia in Europe, as well as China’s influence on Taiwan and European societies, Shen said. Topics included online opinion manipulation and offline infiltration efforts.
In October, China’s Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau accused Shen of participating in activities that undermine national unity by establishing the Kuma Academy, which it called a “separatist organization,” and placed him under investigation. The lawmaker shrugged off the accusations, saying this was “typical” of the Chinese Communist Party. Beijing deals with those who raise questions or defend Taiwan, he said.
Shen noted that European societies are on high alert to disinformation and cognitive warfare, particularly from China and Russia. In contrast, he lamented that some Taiwanese still do not see this as a serious issue.
The lawmaker said that since the pandemic, the term “cognitive warfare” has been stigmatized in Taiwan. However, China has long made public opinion warfare a formal part of its strategy to take Taiwan, he said.
When asked if his trip was coordinated with government agencies, Shen said his team had communicated with and reported to both the National Security Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He acknowledged that some had advised him to cancel the trip for safety reasons but said, “If we retreat because of fear, then this battle isn’t even worth fighting,” per CNA.
