Liberty Times Net: "Warning of Fake News Interference — Chairman of the American Conservative Union: Trump Sees the CCP as a Threat to Freedom"

The following is an English translation of an article originally published by Liberty Times Net and republished on Yahoo News Taiwan. See the article on Yahoo News Taiwan here.

By Fang Wei-li, October 8, 2025, 12:11 p.m.

Matt Schlapp, former White House Director of Political Affairs and current chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU), stated during his speech at the 2025 Taipei Security Dialogue that the global alliance of free democracies is facing infiltration by fake news and propaganda. He urged greater awareness of media manipulation and the threats posed by globalism. Schlapp emphasized that the Trump administration redefined the true source of global threats, declaring, “President Trump views the Chinese Communist Party and the Beijing regime as existential threats to freedom and prosperity,” rather than focusing solely on Russia. He described this as a “critical turning point for the security of the free world.”

The 2025 Taipei Security Dialogue—hosted by Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research and the Mainland Affairs Council—was held under the theme “Integrated Deterrence: Maintaining Indo-Pacific Peace through Strength.” The morning session featured keynote speeches by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp.

Schlapp pointed out that the current international public discourse is dominated by propaganda, leading to an unbalanced media environment and a gradual decline in American public awareness of Taiwan’s importance. He criticized that “one of the greatest weapons of communists, globalists, and those who do not believe in freedom is propaganda.” According to Schlapp, reports about the U.S. or Trump seen in major media outlets (such as CNN) are often maliciously distorted. “There is a political agenda behind it—to make people believe that Trump ignores Taiwan—but that is false,” he said. Schlapp stressed that the United States and Taiwan share a deep-rooted commitment to freedom and security: “Our common values are ingrained in our very bones.”

He went on to describe how American society is currently fighting against “wokeism,” globalism, and “lawfare.” He likened this struggle to a “Cultural Revolution-style virus,” saying, “They tell you which books you can or cannot read, what parents can or cannot teach their children.” He warned that media and technology companies have become part of the propaganda machine. Schlapp said that Trump’s political resurgence symbolizes the American people’s rejection of control by “globalist elites” and their rediscovery of the belief in “peace through strength.”

Schlapp also argued that Americans have long been taught to see Russian President Vladimir Putin as the “number one adversary,” but that the Trump administration fundamentally reoriented U.S. foreign policy to recognize the Chinese Communist Party as the true threat to the free order—not Russia. “This doesn’t mean we seek war with Beijing, but rather that we must clearly recognize who the free world’s real opponent is,” he said. Schlapp stressed that Trump firmly believes a strong defense is the only path to peace: “If America is weak, or if it elects weak leaders, that would be disastrous for Taiwan.”

He further underscored the importance of technology and security cooperation, noting that without a strong relationship with Taiwan, the U.S. cannot prevail in the global tech competition. He urged the audience to reflect amid the flood of fake news and propaganda: “Which leader can truly guarantee Taiwan’s safety? Which political movement genuinely defends freedom?” Schlapp criticized the Biden administration for the outbreak of multiple conflicts worldwide, arguing that “weakness does not bring peace.”

Finally, Schlapp warned that free societies across the world face common threats: media monopolies, moneyed influence, and globalist infiltration. He claimed that Chinese Communist funding and propaganda are spreading throughout Europe and South America. “If we are to defend freedom, we need strong leaders and an awakened popular movement,” he said, emphasizing that the U.S.-Taiwan security partnership must not be weakened: “Trump understands that he is an ally in this fight.”