Chinese author warns Taiwan of China's media penetration

Taipei, April 5 (CNA) A Chinese pundit has warned Taiwan about China's penetration of the local media, contending that Taiwan should take countermeasures through legislation to stop the spread of so-called fake news disseminated by China.

He Qinglian (何清漣), a Chinese author and economist who now lives in the United States after fleeing suppression in China, made the remarks in an exclusive telephone interview with CNA March 27.

In March, He published a Chinese-language book titled "紅色滲透," which translates as "Red Penetration" in English, in which she revealed Beijing's efforts to create leverage aimed at manipulating international opinion in favor of China.

To achieve this goal, China has since 2009 allocated 45 billion Chinese yuan for the launch of international campaigns around the world, He said.

Citing China's state-run Xinhua news agency as an example, she said it now has more than 6,000 reporters stationed overseas, a scale that far surpasses that of AP, AFP and Reuters.

As Taiwan forms a core interest for China, it will be hard for Taiwan to avert Beijing's relentless "red penetration," she argued.

She said it is necessary for Taiwan to draw up specific legislation to deal with the "red penetration," even if some people criticize that doing so simply reflects Taiwan's anti-China stance.

In response to arguments from some quarters that "allowing comments in favor of China" forms part of free expression, He said she cannot agree with such a viewpoint.

She expressed the opinion that the issue of news exchange must be handled based on principles of equality when it comes to free speech with regard to China, as the U.S. has done.