A viral fake news story on YouTube has ignited diplomatic tensions between China and South Korea. The contentious video falsely claimed that martial law troops arrested 99 Chinese "hackers" for allegedly assisting opposition parties at South Korea's National Election Commission. Seoul's election watchdog has dismissed these allegations as baseless, emphasizing the unfounded nature of the claims.
The controversy drew a swift response from China's diplomatic circles. On Monday, Chinese ambassador in Seoul, Dai Bing, condemned the spread of the false allegations. In his statement, he reiterated China's commitment to non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.
"China has all along upheld the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. And we have always honoured our word and are completely above board on it." – Dai Bing, Chinese ambassador in Seoul.
The fake news narrative suggested that Chinese "hackers" had supported opposition parties, a claim that has been firmly rejected by both Chinese and South Korean officials. The allegations not only caused a stir in South Korea but also provoked backlash in China, highlighting the sensitivity of foreign interference allegations in national elections.
Seoul's election watchdog played a crucial role in swiftly debunking the story. By labeling it as baseless, they aimed to prevent misinformation from influencing public opinion or damaging diplomatic relations further. This highlights the ongoing challenges faced by governments in combatting misinformation in the digital age.
The episode underscores the potential for viral misinformation to strain international relations. South Korea's government remains vigilant against such narratives that could undermine their democratic processes.
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