Cabinet spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka says the operations of China-based OTT content providers in Taiwan are illegal.
OTT is an over-the-top platform like Netflix. It refers to film and television content provided via a high-speed Internet connection rather than a cable or satellite provider.
Under existing laws, China is barred from investing in Taiwan’s media industry, nor are its OTT content providers allowed to operate in Taiwan without government permission.
However, several Chinese OTT service providers such as Tencent and iQIYI have already entered the Taiwanese market during the COVID-19 pandemic. To attract a local audience, they offer free services to six counties and cities.
Yotaka says this is regrettable, and that the government will introduce bills or revise existing laws to address the issue.