A video alleging that Japan is evacuating its citizens from Taiwan in preparation for an emergency in the Taiwan Strait is shown in a screenshot from China VTV News' Facebook page. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau

By Jason Pan / Staff reporter

The owners of Kaohsiung news outlet China VTV Co (中华微视公司) are being investigated for having alleged financial connections with China, and for allegedly conducting a disinformation campaign to create social division and mistrust in Taiwan's government.

Tsai Yue-ting and his ex-wife, Chang Chiao-lin, were questioned by judicial investigators after evidence reportedly showed that the couple had received 3 million yuan (US$421,354) from its parent company's offices in Beijing and Hong Kong.

The outlet provides news programming on social media sites including YouTube and Facebook.

Authorities determined that China VTV was attempting to induce public alarm in a posting titled “Japan ready evacuation of its citizens from Taiwan due to an emergency in the Taiwan Strait.”

Tsai was found to have signed a partnership agreement with China VTV Holding Co chairman Song Tijin (宋体金), who has been linked to the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau said on Friday.

“The agreement called for the company's entities in China and Hong Kong to provide 3 million yuan for Song's representative companies to obtain 67 percent shares in Taiwan-registered China VTV Co, the bureau said.

Computers and communication records were seized, and nine people were summoned for questioning, including Tsai and Chang, who reside in New Taipei City.

Tsai was released on NT$90,000 bail and Chang on NT$50,000 bail.

Bureau officials said the two face charges of illegal company registration, illegal funding by a Chinese entity and tax evasion under the Company Act (Company Law) and the Business Entity Accounting Act (Business Accounting Law), and of contravening legal statutes governing relations between Taiwan and China.

After looking through computer and phone records, investigators determined that Tsai and Chang were taking instruction from executives in China to establish and operate programming for social media produced by outlets in Beijing and Hong Kong in what the bureau called “propaganda efforts”

Song had visited Taiwan in 2016 and held meetings with executives from the China Times Group (中时集团) and NOWnews to develop strategic partnerships, according to local media reports.

News source: TAIPEI TIMES