Official says Thailand trip rumors ‘cognitive warfare’CHINESE TACTIC: Rumors that Chen Ming-tong had visited Thailand were intended to cast doubt on the abilities of Taiwan’s security apparatus, an official saidBy Su Yung-yao and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerAn online rumor that National Security Bureau Director-General Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) visited Thailand at taxpayers’ expense in July is “classic cognitive warfare” intended to signal to foreign officials that their whereabouts in Thailand are known to China, a national security official said on Saturday. National Security Bureau Director-General Chen Ming-tong speaks at a legislative hearing in Taipei on May 16. The bureau the same day said details of the post were incorrect, although it did not specify whether Chen visited Thailand. The Twitter account was created only last month and posted six messages before being taken down, a national security official said on condition of anonymity. As for the purpose of Chen’s alleged visit, the official said that Thailand has always been an important international center for intelligence.

Source: Taipei Times September 20, 2022 05:53 UTC