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Taiwan’s DPP Councillor Calls for Investigation into Chinese Apps Requiring “Loyalty Pledges”
A Taiwanese city councillor has called on authorities to investigate two Chinese mobile applications that allegedly demand users pledge allegiance to mainland China, raising significant national security concerns amid ongoing cross-strait tensions.
Taipei City Councillor Yen Juo-fang of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) voiced serious concerns during a recent city government meeting with Mayor Chiang Wan-an, urging immediate police action against the apps known as “Return Home” and “Taiwan Defection.” According to reports from The Taipei Times, both applications are believed to be operated from mainland China.
“These apps are not harmless digital tools; they are extensions of China’s propaganda machinery,” Yen stated during the meeting. The councillor described the applications as components of Beijing’s psychological warfare campaign against Taiwan, representing threats to both national security and personal privacy.
Security experts note that upon opening the applications, users are immediately confronted with the Chinese national flag and propaganda slogans promoting Beijing’s controversial “one country, two systems” governance model—a framework that Taiwan’s government and most of its 23 million citizens have consistently rejected. Taiwan has maintained de facto independence since 1949, while China considers the island part of its territory.
The apps reportedly display real-time statistics claiming to show how many people in various Taiwanese districts have “pledged loyalty” to mainland China, creating a false impression of growing support for unification. This gamification of political loyalty represents a new frontier in China’s influence operations targeted at Taiwan.
Of particular concern is the technical infrastructure behind these applications. The “Taiwan Defection” app utilizes a .xyz domain, a top-level domain that cybersecurity specialists have frequently associated with phishing attempts and online fraud schemes. Yen warned that this domain architecture could potentially serve as a vehicle for malware distribution, data theft, and financial crimes targeting Taiwanese citizens.
Both applications implement reward systems offering cash incentives to users who remain active and recruit others to join—a tactic that cybersecurity analysts suggest blurs distinctions between traditional espionage and digital manipulation techniques.
The emergence of these apps comes during a period of heightened tensions between Taipei and Beijing. China has increased military drills around Taiwan in recent years, while simultaneously expanding its digital influence operations. The Chinese government has consistently stated its intention to bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary.
Taiwan’s digital security landscape has become increasingly complex as Chinese-backed influence operations have evolved from traditional disinformation campaigns to more sophisticated technological approaches. The Taiwanese government has previously warned citizens about Chinese apps that could compromise personal data or serve as vectors for propaganda.
During her address, Councillor Yen called for decisive and comprehensive action, urging both Taipei police and national security agencies to identify the developers behind the applications, remove them from all digital platforms, and implement blacklisting measures to prevent further distribution.
“These apps are clear attempts by China to infiltrate Taiwan’s digital space and erode our sovereignty,” Yen emphasized, highlighting the need for stronger digital defense mechanisms to protect Taiwan’s democratic institutions from foreign interference.
The case underscores growing concerns about digital sovereignty in Taiwan and raises questions about the regulation of foreign-developed applications that may serve political or intelligence-gathering purposes under the guise of social networking or entertainment platforms.
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13 Comments
It’s disturbing to see China using seemingly innocuous apps as vehicles for its propaganda and political agenda. Demanding loyalty pledges is a blatant attempt to interfere with Taiwan’s sovereignty and the rights of its citizens. The government must take firm steps to protect the country’s interests.
It’s disturbing to see China using apps as a means to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty. This is a clear attempt to sow division and erode the Taiwanese people’s sense of identity. The authorities must take firm action to protect the country’s interests.
It’s alarming to see China using mobile apps as a means to interfere with Taiwan’s sovereignty and the individual freedoms of its people. Demanding loyalty pledges is a clear violation of Taiwanese identity and national security. The authorities must take decisive action to address this threat and protect the country’s interests.
The revelation that these apps are operated from mainland China and demand loyalty pledges is deeply troubling. They are clearly propaganda tools aimed at undermining Taiwan’s independence and eroding the Taiwanese people’s sense of identity. Strong action is needed to address this threat.
These apps are a concerning example of how China is using technology to advance its political agenda. Requiring users to pledge allegiance to the mainland is a blatant violation of Taiwanese sovereignty. The authorities must act quickly to address this threat.
I agree, the government should move swiftly to ban these apps and raise public awareness about the risks they pose. Taiwan’s digital sovereignty must be protected at all costs.
This is a deeply worrying development. Apps that demand loyalty pledges to China are blatant propaganda tools aimed at undermining Taiwan’s independence and the rights of its citizens. The government must act swiftly to investigate and ban these apps, and raise public awareness about the broader threat they pose.
The fact that these apps are operated from mainland China and demand loyalty pledges is a major cause for concern. They are clearly part of Beijing’s efforts to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and erode the Taiwanese people’s sense of identity. The authorities must investigate this issue thoroughly and take appropriate action.
These apps are not just harmless digital tools, but extensions of China’s broader psychological warfare campaign against Taiwan. Requiring users to pledge allegiance to the mainland is a clear violation of Taiwanese sovereignty and individual freedoms. Decisive action is needed to address this threat.
This is a concerning development. Apps that demand loyalty pledges to China are clear propaganda tools aimed at undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty. The government should investigate these apps thoroughly and take appropriate action to protect national security and citizens’ privacy.
Requiring users to pledge allegiance to China is a blatant violation of individual freedoms. These apps are not just harmless tools, but extensions of Beijing’s broader psychological warfare against Taiwan. The authorities must act swiftly to address this threat.
I agree, these apps pose a serious risk to Taiwan’s national security. The government should work to ban them and raise public awareness about the dangers of such propaganda efforts.
The fact that these apps demand loyalty pledges to China is a major red flag. They are not innocent tools, but part of Beijing’s broader campaign to exert influence and control over Taiwan. The government needs to investigate this issue thoroughly and take decisive action.