2022/09/24
The Ministry of National Defense issues a press release about the media appointed by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council reporting the so-called "Visit by the Armed Forces to the United States for inspection and observation"
Press release of the Ministry of National Defense
Time: September 24, 2022 at 09:00
Regarding what the "China Times", located in Fujian and run by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, reported on the so-called "Visit by the Armed Forces to the United States for inspection and observation", and later reprinted in domestic media, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today (24th) that the content of the report is a typical example of manipulation by fake information. The report criticizes the work of the Armed Forces with allies to improve combat power.
The MND points out that all exchanges concerning foreign affairs by the Armed Forces are carried out in accordance with the annual approved plan. As for the group of visit to Hawaii for an exchange, the arrival time was a regular holiday at the locality so no official meeting was arranged. Activities carried out aligned with local social etiquette. The report deliberately exaggerated the purpose of the visit to criticize the efforts of the Armed Forces in its work with the allies to improve combat power, thus mislead our nationals and caused confusion.
The MND emphasizes that the CCP has taken advantage of the environment of Taiwan's press freedom to carry out cognitive warfare operations in various ways, including fake reports, as it works to disrupt our internal stability. Thus, the MND will continue to strengthen countermeasures for cultural propaganda, engage in due and proper foreign-related exchanges, and retain the confidentiality of exchanges to strictly enforce various security control mechanisms and ensure the security of our national defense.