A battalion commander received two demerits for a propaganda movie screening at an army camp in Yilan County. The Ministry of National Defense confirmed the disciplinary action on Monday. The Chinese film The Eight Hundred depicts Nationalist soldiers during the 1937 Battle of Shanghai. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting yu criticized the movie for united front messaging.
The commander streamed the movie from YouTube for soldiers in January. Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Chen Chien yi provided these details. The screening did not obtain approval at least one day in advance. Major General Shih Shun wen explained the protocol violation clearly. Subsequently, the propaganda movie screening also took place during a reservist call-up. A tour bus served as the venue for that second showing. Wang Ting yu added this information during a legislative committee meeting.
The film prominently features the Republic of China flag and national anthem. The commander failed to realize that the movie serves as Chinese Communist Party propaganda. Chen stated that Beijing continues using cognitive warfare tactics against Taiwan’s armed forces. These tactics include recruiting low level military personnel intentionally. They also aim to distort perceptions about enemies and loyalties. The armed forces have implemented ideological education measures to counter these attempts. The army emphasized that one commander’s poor judgment caused the problem.
Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo responded to the incident firmly. He said he would urge the entire armed forces to strengthen ideological education. He also promised to review related disciplinary procedures across all units. The same camp faced controversy earlier this month as well. A commander had been removed from his post for humiliating a Taiwanese Japanese conscript. The officer called the conscript a Japanese devil during basic training. Therefore, the propaganda movie screening adds to growing concerns about leadership judgment.
The Ministry of National Defense will likely issue new guidelines soon. Future approvals for any film screenings must follow strict protocols. Commanders will receive additional training on identifying foreign propaganda content. Legislators have called for a broader review of cognitive warfare vulnerabilities. Consequently, Taiwan’s military remains vigilant against information operations from China. The disciplinary case serves as a warning to all service branches. Ongoing education will emphasize the importance of operational security and ideological awareness.
