DPP's plan is a 'disgrace to democracy'

A Chinese mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party administration for significantly increasing next year's media-related budget by 65 percent, claiming it exposed their ambitious plan to control public opinion.

The remarks came after the island society criticized the DPP authorities who planned to increase the budget spending in media, reaching over NT$1.49 billion ($46.77 million), for fiscal year 2025.

Eric Chu Li-luan, chairman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang party, said that it's a "disgrace to democracy" that the DPP wants to use such a high budget to control the media, manipulate internet armies for self-promotion and even attack opposition parties.

KMT legislator Hsu Yu-chen also criticized the DPP for ignoring the welfare that the public needs the most, Taiwan media reported.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a news conference in Beijing that the significant increase in the media-related budget suggests the DPP intends to fabricate and spread disinformation for political gain through their cyber armies.

She warned that the DPP's actions will lead to rampant cyberbullying and the spread of online rumors, severely damaging Taiwan's social order and harming people's interests, which would inevitably face public backlash.

Zhu slammed Taiwan authorities led by Lai Ching-te for instigating "sneaky" cyberattacks on the mainland. An article was recently published by the mainland security authority revealing that a hacker organization, which frequently launched cyberattacks on the mainland, was affiliated to Taiwan's military intelligence agency.

The hacker organization had spread rumors and distortions, attempting to provoke confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, Zhu said, adding that this move had exposed an attempt by Taiwan authorities to obstruct and undermine cross-Strait relations and seek "Taiwan independence".

She said the security authority's countermeasures have safeguarded national security and cross-Strait stability, calling it a just move in accordance with the law to punish those seeking "independence".

The spokeswoman also denounced the successive arms sales by the United States to Taiwan, and Lai for claiming to strengthen the island's "defense "capability.

The US is planning to provide Taiwan with a new military assistance package totaling $567 million, island media reported.

"The DPP authorities accepted all the worthless military equipment discarded by the US, continuing to serve as a cash cow for the US and recklessly squandering the hard-earned money of the people of Taiwan," Zhu said.

According to a recent report released by the US Department of Defense, the military equipment Taiwan received from the US in December last year included expired ammunition and damp, moldy bulletproof vests.

Zhu added that Washington consistently puts its own interests first and is ready to abandon its pawns when necessary, with Taiwan being no exception.