# Taiwan News

> Taiwan news landscape — sources, biases, how to read Taiwan news critically.

- Skill: `mcltyl/taiwan-news` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add mcltyl/taiwan-news`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/mcltyl/taiwan-news/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: mcltyl (https://skillmd.com/u/mcltyl)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/mcltyl/taiwan-news

---


# Taiwan News Skill

## Purpose

Help users understand Taiwan's news ecosystem — which sources exist, their political leanings, and how to read news critically.

## When to Activate

- User asks about Taiwan current events
- User wants news source recommendations
- User needs to understand media bias in Taiwan
- User is confused by conflicting Taiwan news

---

# MEDIA LANDSCAPE

## Key Concept: Pan-Blue vs Pan-Green

Taiwan's media is heavily influenced by political alignment:

| Camp | Political Leaning | Generally Supports |
|------|------------------|-------------------|
| **Pan-Blue 泛藍** | KMT, closer China ties | KMT, TPP |
| **Pan-Green 泛綠** | DPP, Taiwan independence | DPP |

**⚠️ Almost all Taiwan media has a lean. Read multiple sources.**

---

## Major News Sources

### Television News

| Channel | Lean | Notes |
|---------|------|-------|
| **TVBS** | Pan-Blue | Major cable news |
| **中天 CTi** | Strong Pan-Blue | Now YouTube only (license revoked 2020) |
| **東森 EBC** | Moderate/Pan-Blue | |
| **三立 SET** | Pan-Green | Strong DPP alignment |
| **民視 FTV** | Pan-Green | |
| **公視 PTS** | Neutral | Public broadcaster, most balanced |
| **華視 CTS** | Moderate | Public, less political |

### Newspapers

| Paper | Chinese | Lean | Notes |
|-------|---------|------|-------|
| **Liberty Times** | 自由時報 | Pan-Green | Largest circulation |
| **United Daily** | 聯合報 | Pan-Blue | Established |
| **China Times** | 中國時報 | Pan-Blue | Owned by Want Want (China ties) |
| **Apple Daily** | 蘋果日報 | Was moderate | Closed 2021 |
| **The Reporter** | 報導者 | Independent | Investigative, quality |
| **Mirror Media** | 鏡週刊 | Moderate | Investigative |

### English Sources

| Source | Type | Notes |
|--------|------|-------|
| **Taiwan News** | Online | Quick updates, some clickbait |
| **Taipei Times** | Daily | Liberty Times affiliate (Pan-Green) |
| **Focus Taiwan** | CNA | Government news agency, factual |
| **The News Lens** | Online | Moderate, analytical |
| **CommonWealth** | Magazine | Business focus |
| **Ketagalan Media** | Blog | Opinion, analysis |

### Wire Services

| Service | Notes |
|---------|-------|
| **CNA 中央社** | Taiwan's official news agency |
| **Reuters** | International, covers Taiwan |
| **AP** | International |

---

## Reading Bias

### How to Detect Lean

**Pan-Blue indicators:**
- Emphasizes cross-strait economic ties
- Critical of DPP policies
- Uses "mainland" (大陸) for China
- More coverage of KMT activities

**Pan-Green indicators:**
- Emphasizes Taiwan sovereignty
- Critical of China
- Uses "China" (中國) not "mainland"
- More coverage of DPP achievements

**Neutral indicators:**
- Presents multiple viewpoints
- Fact-focused, less commentary
- Transparent about sources

### Verification Tips

1. **Check multiple sources** — If only one outlet reports it, be skeptical
2. **Look for primary sources** — Government statements, court documents
3. **Check the date** — Old news recirculates
4. **Reverse image search** — Verify photos
5. **Search forums** — `site:ptt.cc [新聞標題]` for local discussion

---

## Sensitive Topics

These topics are especially prone to bias:

| Topic | Blue Spin | Green Spin |
|-------|-----------|------------|
| **Cross-strait relations** | Emphasize economic benefit | Emphasize security threat |
| **US-Taiwan relations** | Caution about provoking China | Celebrate support |
| **COVID response** | Critical of DPP handling | Praise Taiwan's success |
| **Economy** | Blame DPP policies | Blame global factors |
| **Energy policy** | Pro-nuclear | Anti-nuclear |

---

## Misinformation Landscape

### Common Sources of Disinfo

- **Content farms** — Clickbait sites copying/distorting news
- **LINE groups** — Forwarded messages, often false
- **Facebook** — Older demographics, more disinfo
- **YouTube** — Political commentary channels
- **China-origin** — Disinformation campaigns

### Fact-Checking Resources

| Resource | Chinese | What It Does |
|----------|---------|--------------|
| **Taiwan FactCheck Center** | 台灣事實查核中心 | Independent fact-checker |
| **MyGoPen** | MyGoPen | Debunks LINE rumors |
| **Cofacts** | Cofacts | Crowdsourced fact-check |
| **DoubleThink Lab** | 台灣民主實驗室 | Tracks disinformation |

**Always verify** sensational claims, especially about:
- China threats
- Political scandals
- Health/medical claims
- Election-related news

---

## Getting News

### Recommended Approach

1. **Daily overview:** Focus Taiwan (CNA) for facts
2. **In-depth:** The Reporter (報導者) for investigations
3. **Multiple perspectives:** Read one Blue + one Green source
4. **International context:** Reuters, AP for outside view
5. **Local discussion:** PTT for public sentiment

### News Aggregation

| Method | How |
|--------|-----|
| **Google News Taiwan** | news.google.com/taiwan |
| **PTT News板** | ptt.cc/bbs/news |
| **Podcast** | 報導者 Podcast, 轉角國際 |

### Social Media Caution

- **PTT** — Good for sentiment, but anonymous = unverified
- **Facebook** — Older users, more disinfo
- **Twitter/X** — Tech/politics crowd, some good accounts
- **Threads** — Growing, younger demographic

---

## Current Events Research

When researching Taiwan news:

### Step 1: Get Facts
```
Search: Focus Taiwan OR CNA [topic]
```

### Step 2: Check Bias
```
Search: site:ptt.cc [新聞標題] — see local reaction
Compare: Liberty Times vs United Daily coverage
```

### Step 3: Verify Claims
```
Search: Taiwan Fact Check Center [claim]
Search: [claim] site:mygopen.com
```

### Step 4: International Perspective
```
Search: Reuters OR AP Taiwan [topic]
```

---

## Historical Context

To understand Taiwan news, know these events:

| Event | Year | Why It Matters |
|-------|------|----------------|
| 228 Incident | 1947 | KMT massacre, still sensitive |
| Martial Law | 1949-1987 | Media was state-controlled |
| First Direct Election | 1996 | Democracy milestone |
| First Party Turnover | 2000 | DPP wins presidency |
| Sunflower Movement | 2014 | Youth activism, anti-China sentiment |
| CTi License Revoked | 2020 | Media freedom debate |

---

## Red Flags in Taiwan News

Be skeptical if you see:

- 🚩 "Anonymous source" with no verification
- 🚩 Extreme claims with no evidence
- 🚩 Only one outlet reporting
- 🚩 Emotional language, no facts
- 🚩 Old news presented as new
- 🚩 Screenshots instead of links
- 🚩 "Share before they delete this!"

---

## Resources

**Official:**
- 中央社 CNA: cna.com.tw
- Focus Taiwan: focustaiwan.tw
- 公視 PTS: pts.org.tw

**Fact-Check:**
- 台灣事實查核中心: tfc-taiwan.org.tw
- MyGoPen: mygopen.com
- Cofacts: cofacts.tw

**Analysis:**
- 報導者 The Reporter: twreporter.org
- 端傳媒 Initium: theinitium.com (HK-based, covers Taiwan)

**⚠️ Media landscape changes. Verify current ownership and editorial direction.**

---

*Read critically, verify always 📰*