Taiwan Defense Ministry to Consolidate Public Media to Enhance Response to ‘Cognitive Warfare’

Header: Chinese Nuclear Submarine “Sinking” in Taiwan Strait Revealed as Fake News

Paragraph 1: In late August, reports of a Chinese nuclear submarine sinking in the Taiwan Strait circulated online, causing speculation and concern. However, it was later discovered that the news was nothing more than “fake news” spread by a controversial Chinese individual living in the United States. Despite Taiwan officials denying the reports, some media continued to report it as “unconfirmed information,” leading to suspicions of “information warfare.”

Paragraph 2: The rumors began when an American expert on submarines posted a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, stating that a Chinese Navy submarine had suffered a serious accident in the Taiwan Strait. The tweets were picked up by others and quickly spread on the internet. The Chinese government had recently announced military exercises in the area, making the reports seem plausible.

Paragraph 3: As the rumors spread, more online reports emerged, claiming to provide further information on the alleged accident. These reports mentioned SOS signals and Chinese tugboats gathering in the seas near Taiwan. However, experts pointed out that the Taiwan Strait’s shallow waters were unsuitable for nuclear submarines to operate in, casting doubt on the validity of the reports.

Paragraph 4: Taiwanese officials swiftly denied the reports, assuring the public that there was no abnormal radiation detected and no supporting information about an accident. However, some media outlets, including those in the United States, continued to report the possibility of an accident as “unconfirmed.”

Paragraph 5: The source of the submarine accident report was later discovered to be a self-proclaimed media outlet called “LUDE Media,” run by a Chinese individual named Wang Dinggang residing in the United States. Wang and his associates have a history of spreading false information, including claims about the origins of COVID-19 and Taiwanese Air Force pilot defections to China.

Paragraph 6: In response to China’s “cognitive warfare” tactics aimed at influencing Taiwanese opposition to unification, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense plans to consolidate various media outlets currently under its control into one organization. This consolidation aims to create a stronger defense against false reports and misinformation, similar to the approach taken by the US Department of Defense.

Conclusion: The incident of the Chinese nuclear submarine sinking in the Taiwan Strait turned out to be a case of “fake news” spread by a controversial Chinese individual. Taiwan’s authorities are taking steps to counter China’s “cognitive warfare” tactics by consolidating their media outlets. This move aims to strengthen their ability to identify and refute false reports.

Original Story at japan-forward.com – 2023-09-09 01:25:57