OOPS!

Taiwan TV Station Apologizes After Announcing Chinese Invasion

News ticker alerts displayed in error announced Chinese missile attacks on the island nation that’s already on edge over military presence.

A Taiwan TV station apologized Wednesday after accidentally announcing a Chinese invasion of the island nation on its news ticker. According to Reuters, Chinese Television System ran a series of alerts announcing Chinese missile attacks on Taiwanese ships, a train station in Taipei being set on fire by “Chinese agents,” and President Tsai Ing-wen announcing a state of emergency. It turned out the alerts had been prepared for a fire-service drill and were put up on screens because of a technical error. “Citizens, please don’t be overly panicked. We hereby clarify the information and apologize,” a news anchor announced on the main evening news program. The false alerts came at a period of heightened tension with China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province rather than an independent nation.