Taipei: The Taiwan government has announced an investigation into the China Times newspaper for its alleged participation in a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda campaign during the recent Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit held in Beijing. The China Times, one of Taiwan's largest newspapers, has responded by calling on the government to uphold the Constitution amid the accusations.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which oversees Taiwan's cross-strait policy, accused the Want Want China Times Media Group of aligning with Beijing's political messaging at the summit. The MAC claims that remarks made by Want Want Group executives were detrimental to Taiwan's national sovereignty and interests. The government plans to review these statements for potential violations of the law prohibiting unauthorized collaboration with China's political, military, or administrative bodies, specifically Article 33-1 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

In its defense, China Times issued a press release asserting its stance, referencing the Constitution and the Act Governing Relations, which it claims affirm that Taiwan and the Mainland are both part of one China. The newspaper emphasized its position by urging all parties to uphold the Constitution and work towards cross-strait peace and Taiwan's future.

The controversy centers on comments made by Tsai Wang-ting, General Manager of Want Want Group, during the summit in Beijing. Tsai referred to China as the "motherland" and Taiwan as "China Taiwan," highlighting the shared cultural and historical roots across the Taiwan Strait. The MAC condemned these remarks as damaging to Taiwan's sovereignty, reiterating Taiwan's status as a sovereign and independent nation that has never been part of the People's Republic of China.

Tzeng Wei-feng, an associate research fellow at National Chengchi University's Institute of International Relations, noted that such comments are now viewed by the Taiwanese government as part of China's broader united front strategy, rather than mere personal political expressions. He highlighted the administration of President Lai Ching-te's firm stance on managing cross-strait exchanges and countering cognitive warfare, warning that Taiwanese businesses operating in China might need to exercise caution in expressing political views due to the increasing sensitivity of cross-strait issues.

Tzeng also pointed out the complexities involved in proving legal violations, such as unauthorized collaboration with Chinese authorities, which would require substantial evidence before any penalties could be imposed.