April 7, 2023
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has taken note of a malicious Twitter account that disseminated a forged document purporting to be an agreement signed by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and the Hudson Institute for the former to make a monetary payment to the latter in exchange for an award for President Tsai Ing-wen.
MOFA solemnly states that the picture of the forged document is completely false. The content is fabricated and the signatures are forged. MOFA has further noted that a malicious website overseas has, in the guise of a news outlet, published a false news report based on this fraudulent document, employing a duplicitous and disingenuous approach of news coverage and analysis.
This is a systematic disinformation campaign launched by external hostile forces. MOFA expresses strong condemnation over this matter. Since this malevolent action involves the criminal act of document forgery, MOFA has reported the matter to related agencies, taking a firm stand against hostile forces engaging in cognitive warfare through the internet. MOFA will also report this malicious account to Twitter and demand that it be taken down.
MOFA reiterates that this is a typical example of external hostile forces launching relentless cyberattacks and cognitive warfare against democratic Taiwan. MOFA reminds the Taiwanese people to remain alert to such absurd and biased narratives and to always utilize various fact-checking mechanisms. MOFA also asks all citizens to work together to condemn disinformation, stop the spread of rumors, and jointly safeguard shared core values and national interests.