
Before Taiwan’s nine-in-one local elections, the short drama app owned by China’s ByteDance became popular. American research pointed out that the CCP uses micro skits to carry out “decentralized propaganda” and united front infiltration.
AI-generated summary
Taiwan’s nine-in-one local elections are approaching, and China’s ByteDance’s “Red Fruit Short Drama” has topped the list of free downloads in the entertainment category of Taiwan’s Apple App Store. The State Administration of Radio and Television of China issued the "Plan for the Creation and Dissemination of Excellent Micro-Short Dramas" and the "Measures for the Development and Management of Micro-Short Dramas", opening up the participation of overseas creators and including United Front themes in the content review. A study by Yale University and the American Journal of Political Science pointed out that the CCP carries out "decentralized propaganda" through micro-drama and short videos, binding overseas audiences with free addictive content and incorporating political narratives.
Apps such as "Hongguo Short Drama" have recently become popular in Taiwan. (Picture/Drawing by this newspaper)
As Taiwan’s nine-in-one local elections approach, “Red Fruit Short Drama” owned by China’s ByteDance has recently topped Taiwan’s Apple App Store’s free entertainment download rankings. Faced with the strong influence of micro-short dramas, Chinese officials not only issued documents to open up the participation of overseas creators and include United Front themes in management, but American academic circles have also successively confirmed that the CCP is launching a new type of "decentralized propaganda" and cultural penetration through short videos.
"Mirror News" international current affairs program "International Kailiao" recently quoted an official document issued by the State Administration of Radio and Television of China to discuss the micro-short drama industry policy. According to public information, the "Excellent Micro-Short Drama Creation and Dissemination Plan" released in May 2026 proposes to implement "Xi Jinping Cultural Thoughts" and support selected works through special funds. The "Measures for the Development and Management of Micro-Short Dramas" announced in July clearly support the participation of overseas creative personnel in the creation. At the same time, micro-short dramas whose main plots involve politics, military, diplomacy, national security and "united front" are classified as special themes and included in the content review.
The United Front clearly lists the provisions for overseas creatives as a possible leakage
In addition to official policy support, American academic circles have also warned against the brainwashing mechanism of mini-drama. The program cited an article in the Yale Journal of International Affairs, which pointed out that China’s export of micro-short dramas is like a “cultural version of the Belt and Road Initiative.” Its core strategy is the "export and binding system". It first attracts overseas audiences with free and highly addictive short dramas. Once it is successfully bound to users' daily time, it can incorporate Chinese political narratives and values.
On the other hand, previous research by the American Journal of Political Science (AJPS) also confirmed this communication strategy. Research and analysis of 5.14 million videos released by more than 18,000 official accounts on Douyin from June 2020 to June 2021 found that China's official short videos were not only produced by traditional official media, but also grassroots units such as police, firefighting and local administration also released a large number of videos of warm rescue and daily good deeds.
The research team defines this model of co-production by official accounts at different levels as "Decentralized Propaganda". Ahead of the nine-in-one election, which pays close attention to people's livelihood affairs, the CCP is using a large number of seemingly harmless grassroots videos and micro-drama to reshape its influence on Taiwan in more covert ways.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Taiwanese authorities may introduce regulatory measures or restrictions on Chinese short drama apps
Possible · Within weeks
American academic circles will continue to release research reports on the cultural penetration of Chinese micro-short dramas
Likely · Within months

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