Rita Cheng

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Articles

Has the US changed its official policy towards Taiwan under new government?

2 months ago | rfa.org | Rita Cheng |Zhuang Jing |Alan Lu

Since the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump began, multiple claims have circulated online suggesting that the U.S. has changed its policy toward Taiwan. Given Taiwan’s role in U.S.-China relations, any perceived policy shift can fuel uncertainty, influence public opinion, and escalate regional tensions. Misinterpretations or deliberate misinformation could shape global narratives, making such rumors highly significant. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunified.
Have California wildfires engulfed the iconic ‘Hollywood’ sign?

Jan 10, 2025 | rfa.org | Rita Cheng

A video clip circulating on Chinese social media site Weibo shows the iconic “Hollywood” sign going up in flames – one of several fake or misleading posts that have emerged as wildfires burn vast swaths of Los Angeles. “Wake up and Hollywood’s gone! California’s first wildfire in 2025 scorched Hollywood, all the sparks in the sky looked like a blockbuster,” one post reads. But the video is fake – apparently generated by Artificial Intelligence.
Did Trump rebuke Musk on the Truth Social platform?

Dec 30, 2024 | rfa.org | Rita Cheng

An image of what appears to be a screenshot of a social media post by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump circulated among Chinese online users alongside a claim that it shows Trump’s post on the Truth Social platform rebuking Tesla CEO Elon Musk. But the claim is false. AFCL found no credible records showing that Trump uploaded such a post. An analysis of the image shows signs of digital manipulation. The image was shared on X on Dec. 22.
Did a Chinese tabloid publish a front-page story about Bashar al-Assad’s fall?

Dec 11, 2024 | rfa.org | Rita Cheng

A photo of what appears to be a front page of a newspaper emerged in Chinese-language social media posts that claim it shows coverage of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad by China’s state-run tabloid, the Global Times. But the claim is false. The photo has been digitally doctored. The original photo shows a Global Times report about former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein published in 2003. The photo was shared here on X on Dec. 8, 2024.
Does a photo show armored vehicles in Seoul after South Korea declared martial law?

Dec 5, 2024 | rfa.org | Rita Cheng

A photo of multiple armored vehicles has been shared in Chinese-language social media posts that claim the photo was taken after South Korea declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. But the claim is false. The photo was published in January and shows military exercises arranged by the South Korean army to strengthen its armored division’s readiness to conduct maneuvers in an urban environment. The photo was shared on Weibo on Dec. 3, 2024 after South Korea declared martial law.
Media Watch: What’s behind Chinese officials’ social media diplomacy

Dec 2, 2024 | rfa.org | Rita Cheng

Chinese diplomats, long champions of a non-interference policy, now find themselves under scrutiny for meddling in the domestic affairs of other countries. In the latest case, Xue Jian, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, Japan, faced sharp criticism from the Japanese government for a post on his X account in which he openly advocated for specific candidates in recent elections.
Did California governor threaten to withhold state’s federal taxes?

Nov 22, 2024 | rfa.org | Rita Cheng

A video clip of California governor Gavin Newsom emerged in Chinese-language social media posts alongside a claim that it shows Newsom threatening to withhold hundreds of billions in federal taxes as leverage in negotiations with the incoming Trump administration. But the claim is false. The voiceover in Chinese does not match what Newsom actually said in the video. The governor never made such a remark. His office dismissed the claim.
Media Watch: Inter-Korean tension sparks rumors in China

Oct 31, 2024 | rfa.org | Dong Zhe |Rita Cheng |Alan Lu |Zhuang Jing

Tensions have intensified between North and South Korea following accusations of drone incursions and the exchange of threats. Both sides have raised their military alerts and North Korea has taken further steps by dismantling parts of shared infrastructure near the border. Meanwhile, in broader developments, South Korea and the United States say North Korea is supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine by sending troops that Seoul says is an escalation of the conflict.
Did a photo of Hua Chunying and her daughter in the US leak online?

Oct 23, 2024 | rfa.org | Rita Cheng

A photo of Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying has circulated in Chinese-language social media claiming to show Hua and her daughter in the United States. But the claim is false. The photo in fact shows Hua and a Chinese journalist, Serena Dong, and it was taken in Beijing. AFCL found no reliable reports that Hua and Dong are related. The photo of Hua posing with a woman in a blue hooded jacket was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sep. 27, 2024.
Media Watch: Anti-Japan sentiment targets Japanese schools in China

Oct 14, 2024 | rfa.org | Rita Cheng

Following the stabbing and death of a 10-year-old Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen on Sept. 19, many Chinese citizens laid flowers in front of the boy’s school, expressing their condolences. This tragedy came just months after a similar attack on June 24, when a Chinese man wounded a Japanese mother and child near a Suzhou Japanese school bus stop.