TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan on Tuesday cast doubt on a Chinese media claim that Beijing helped more than 70 Taiwanese stranded in the Middle East return home, with officials warning the narrative may be part of cognitive warfare.

According to a report by Beijing’s state-run CCTV, more than 70 Taiwanese travelers stranded in the Middle East arrived in Shanghai early Tuesday morning, per CNA. CCTV said the travelers had originally planned to return to Taiwan via a transfer in Abu Dhabi, but after their flight was canceled they were left stranded overseas. It added that they later flew to Istanbul and then transited through Shanghai on the way back to Taiwan.

The report said the travelers sought help from the Chinese Consulate General in Istanbul during the journey. It cited a Taiwanese tour guide and a Chinese immigration inspection official saying the travelers departed after Chinese authorities coordinated with airlines and border inspection officials.

Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Shen You-chung (沈有忠) said unusual activity in Chinese media and online suggested the issue may involve cognitive warfare. He said it was similar to how China used the aftermath of Typhoon Jebi in Japan’s Kansai region in 2018 to spread claims that Taiwan’s government had failed to respond effectively and could not evacuate its citizens.

Shen stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already responded promptly and clarified the situation. He added that the government had made every effort to assist Taiwanese citizens leaving conflict zones and that the results so far had been positive.

MOFA Spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said the case likely involved return flights being affected rather than travelers being stranded in active conflict zones in the Middle East. After checking, MOFA had not received any reports about the case from Taiwan’s overseas missions.

Hsiao said that due to the war in the Middle East many Taiwanese tour groups have been unable to transit through the UAE on their return trips. As a result, some groups have had to wait in Europe, Turkey, or other locations for flights to resume or to change tickets, though most have already found alternative arrangements and are gradually returning to Taiwan.

He added that as of Tuesday about 79 Taiwanese in the Middle East had requested assistance from Taiwan’s overseas offices to return home. Taiwan’s missions in the region have activated international consular protection mechanisms and are helping travelers return either by taking commercial flights locally or traveling overland to neighboring countries with open airspace before flying back to Taiwan.