Taiwan's ruling party says Beijing is upgrading its influence campaign through pop culture and AI, and accuses the opposition of weakening Taiwan's defenses by cutting culture budgets.

• China's Xiamen released new cross-strait measures covering youth exchanges, film and TV, AI-generated short dramas, and adaptations of Taiwanese content.
• The DPP calls this a shift from traditional temple and clan exchanges to celebrities, short video algorithms, and cheap AI content that carries political messages.
• Chinese actor Zhang Linghe, popular in Taiwan, appeared at a Xiamen forum in June calling for deeper film, music, and cultural ties.
• The DPP points to censorship inside China — comedians and artists punished for jokes or criticism — as proof culture there serves the state.
• At the same time, opposition KMT and TPP lawmakers cut or froze funding for the Culture Ministry, public television, TaiwanPlus, and the content agency.

Outlook: Expect the culture budget fight in Taiwan's legislature to stay a proxy battle over how much Beijing shapes what Taiwanese young people watch.