The Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and former leader of the Sunflower Movement, Lin Fei-Fan, stated that following being labeled as a “Taiwanese independence advocate” by the Chinese Communist Party, false information attacking him immediately surfaced online, prompting him to report to the authorities.
In June, the Chinese Communist Party released a set of 22 judicial documents under the “punishing independence” campaign, and the Taiwan Affairs Office’s official website recently launched a new section titled “Legally Punishing Stubborn Taiwanese Independence Elements.” The list of “stubborn Taiwanese independence elements” includes names like Su Tseng-chang, Yu Shyi-kun, Joseph Wu, Hsiao Bi-khim, Ku Li-hsiung, Tsai Chi-chang, Ker Chien-ming, Lin Fei-Fan, Chen Chao-hua, and Wang Ting-yu, totaling 10 individuals, along with a reporting mailbox provided.
Lin Fei-Fan posted on Facebook, mentioning that the 8th of August was Father’s Day, but on the eve of Father’s Day, the Chinese authorities once again took aggressive action by announcing the list of “disciplining stubborn Taiwanese independence elements” and setting up a webpage, with him ranking at number 8. Coincidentally, on the 8th, several absurd and false attacks against him began circulating online, including accusations of hiring prostitutes, receiving a salary higher than ministerial level, up to NT$250,000, etc., all part of a disinformation campaign.
Emphasizing that he will not tolerate rumors and false attacks, whether originating domestically or overseas, Lin Fei-Fan reported the matter to the police on the evening of the 8th. Such attacks based on false information have occurred before. In the past, fake accounts spread rumors that he was the illegitimate child of former presidents Tsai Ing-wen and Lee Teng-hui, leading to ridiculous misunderstandings. There were also online accounts alleging he had dinner with Chinese spy Wang Liqiang, prompting a friend to clarify that he was the person in the photo, not Wang Liqiang.
Lin Fei-Fan mentioned that last year, a political figure falsely accused him of manipulating government shares for campaign financing, which was proven untrue. Confronted with the rapid spread of false information, clarifying the truth always requires immense effort. However, the timing of such disinformation attacks is worth noting and can serve as a reference for identifying and combating similar attacks in the future. He expressed gratitude to many friends who promptly informed him of such false information, enabling quick response and reporting to safeguard national security and Taiwan’s public opinion environment.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau of the National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China issued a statement today (9th), stating that slanderous content targeting Lin Fei-Fan had recently emerged on social media platforms. The Bureau acknowledged and initiated the defamation case reported by Lin Fei-Fan on the 8th, currently actively investigating by examining relevant information.
The Bureau emphasized respect for freedom of speech but highlighted that spreading false information on various social media platforms leads to consequences, and upon receiving complaints, they will diligently investigate according to the law. Citizens are urged to exercise caution when posting on social media and communication software, remain vigilant about unverified or unidentified sources of online information, verify from multiple sources, refrain from forwarding without validation to prevent causing social panic or damaging others’ reputations, in order to avoid legal repercussions.