Defense Ministry Clarifies Content of Military Broadcast Following Controversy

A political controversy erupted recently after a city councilor alleged that the Republic of China Armed Forces had featured a video of political commentator Shen Po-yang during the ‘Juguang Day’ military education program. The councilor criticized the inclusion of the content, labeling it as a form of cognitive warfare and expressing concern over the politicization of military training.

The accusation sparked immediate debate, with critics questioning the appropriateness of the material presented to service members. In response, the Ministry of National Defense issued a formal clarification to address the public outcry. The Ministry confirmed that the specific segment featuring Shen Po-yang was indeed broadcast in April 2024 as part of the ‘Fact Observatory’ series, which aims to provide media literacy education.

However, the Ministry firmly rejected the claim that the content was intended to influence elections or serve as a tool for cognitive warfare. Officials stated that the material was strictly educational and entirely unrelated to the local elections. They emphasized that the military remains committed to political neutrality and that the broadcast was intended to help soldiers identify misinformation rather than promote any specific political agenda. Despite the clarification, the incident has highlighted the sensitivity surrounding military education and the ongoing public discourse regarding the influence of media and political figures within national defense institutions.