Suffocating Freedom of Speech：The Government's Descent into Malevolence
China Times, March 13, 2024
Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng has simplified the definition of "local collaborator" in cognitive warfare to anyone whose speech is unfavorable to Taiwan but beneficial to mainland China. Such a person will be preliminarily considered by the military as a local collaborator. This statement may likely cause concerns to the public. Does this mean that the people cannot criticize the government in the future? When the government mishandles food safety, when collusion between officials and businesses is rampant, and when public funds are misappropriated, are people not allowed to express grievances? Does speaking out automatically label someone as a local collaborator?
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) nomination of Shen Po-yang from the Black Bear Academy as legislator-at-large has sparked controversy. Legislator Shen claims to be an expert in cognitive warfare, ostensibly aiming to counteract cognitive warfare from across the strait. However, in reality, he is suffocating freedom of speech in Taiwan. Surprisingly, Minister Chiu echoed his views during a recent inquiry session, simplifying and crudely defining cognitive warfare and local collaborators, which could potentially harm Taiwan's proud tradition of free speech.
The abundance of information on the internet is a challenge that every country faces in the digital age. Whether it's fake news, biased narratives, or cognitive warfare, these are common issues. Even if Communist China has motives for conducting cognitive warfare, it's logical to assume that our government would also engage in cognitive operations internally. With DPP’s cyber-army personnel (the 1450 Internet army) already exposed, along with numerous instances of "green camp" impersonation, can any unit of the Ministry of National Defense or the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen confidently guarantee that every piece of information critical of the government comes from across the strait?
Moreover, Chiu's definition of "local collaborator" is so shallow that anyone’s speech that benefits the other side instead of Taiwan could be preliminarily labeled as a local collaborator. How terrifying! If the people cannot criticize food safety loopholes in the Sudan Red dye incident, question the government in the optoelectronics corruption case, or complain about detrimental government actions, how is this any different from the authoritarian regime across the strait?
The DPP views mainland China as an evil force, but unexpectedly, in the process of combating this evil force, they themselves are constantly heading down the same path. While the late Cheng Nan-jung advocated for 100% free speech, today we have Chairman Chen Yaw-shyang of the National Communications Commission (NCC), stating that there is no such thing as 100% free speech. Furthermore, Minister Chiu has stated that anyone whose speech is unfavorable to Taiwan but beneficial to the mainland is preliminarily considered a local collaborator in cognitive warfare. It is unfortunate that under the DPP administration, the people are deprived of their rights to enjoy constitutionally protected free speech and the right to speak the truth.
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20240313000468-260118?chdtv