How Hong Kong Frames Taiwan in the National Security Law Era? A Comparative Study on Pro-Government and Pro-Democracy Online Influencers

In the National Security Law era, Taiwan politics have been carefully reported by mainstream media in Hong Kong. This study analyzes 3,800 YouTube videos, an alternative media, to compare how pro-government and pro-democracy influencers frame cross-strait relations and potential wars. The results indicate that videos about foreign military attract active audiences’ engagement from both sides, pro-Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) videos receive higher engagement but anti-DPP content garners less and China’s intervention and separation from China attract less pro-democracy engagement. The conclusion indicates audiences of pro-democracy influencers are more sympathetic toward Taiwan whereas audiences of pro-government influencers show less concern for the official narratives.