Taiwan to halt local sales of Chinese streaming services

Taiwan plans to stop local sales for Chinese internet television streaming services operated by
the likes of iQiyi and Tencent Holdings, according to regulations released this week, but does not plan
on blocking the services, Reuters reports.
Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has long been suspicious of Chinese attempts to sway its population, including by use of fake news spread online and efforts to influence Taiwan media.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said late Tuesday the rules barring Taiwanese companies from selling or operating as sales agents for Chinese internet streaming services will take effect September 3.
The service iQiyi applied in 2016 to set up a Taiwan
subsidiary, but was rejected because Chinese companies cannot operate online streaming services there, the ministry said.
However, Taiwan is not blocking or banning them, the National Communications Commission said.
"People can still watch and pay for overseas subscriptions," commission deputy chief Wong Po-Tsung told Reuters, adding that officials would ensure subscribers' rights are not affected.
The commission ruled in May, after months of debate, that Chinese online television service providers would not advertise their services in Taiwan.
Tencent, which runs Tencent Video, declined to comment. Baidu-backed, Netflix-like iQiyi said
it would issue a statement later.