This is not a troll-post; I am genuinely curious about why this is the case. When I asked DeepSeek AI some Western propaganda questions like “Is Taiwan a country” and “What happened on Tiananmen Square 1989”, it refuses to answer.

This is strange because on other Chinese sites like Baidu, you can easily search these topics and get answers from the non-Western, Chinese point of view that are very educational, yet DeepSeek for some reason flags these questions. I’ve only tested this out with the English version since I unfortunately am not fluent in Chinese.

Does anyone have any possible explanation for why this may be the case?

Edit: After some further investigation, I’m seeing that the AI’s political views tend to be pretty liberal and only a little to the left of ChatGPT. In this context, I can see why it refuses to answer these questions in an attempt to prevent the spread of disinformation.

  • soumerd_retardataire@lemmygrad.ml
    3·
    2 months ago

    I don’t know either but, kinda like davel or Munrock ☭ said, perhaps that it’s because if they don’t give up on Taiwan they’ll be criticized externally, and if they give up on it they’ll be rightfully criticized internally(, since they should have recovered it at the end of the Civil War).
    For Tiananmen they may also have anticipated on critics and preferred to ban such questions altogether, i.d.k.

    It’s good to note that ChatGPT had problems in the past, perhaps not linked with David Mayer de Rothschild, but it was impossible to ask for informations during the US elections for instance(, it repeated that the elections were fair or something, even with the paid version).

    However, the paid version of DeepSeek does not censor anything about Taiwan a.f.a.i.k.(,accessible via, e.g., ChatBox).
    You can also download the model and run it offline for free(, e.g. with KoboldAI, or others, quite useful in a post-apocalyptic world if it’s the only thing that survived), even if the cloud usually offer more calculation power than a personal computer(, i haven’t made a comparison though).

    Here’re its answers :

    Taiwan

    The status of Taiwan is a complex and sensitive issue, influenced by historical, political, and international relations factors. Here’s a balanced explanation:

    Taiwan’s Political Status

    • De facto Independence: Taiwan operates as a separate, self-governing entity with its own government, military, currency, and constitution. It functions as a sovereign state in many practical ways.
    • Official Name: Taiwan’s official name is the Republic of China (ROC), which was established in 1912 and retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party, which established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland.
    • PRC’s Claim: The PRC considers Taiwan to be a part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. Most countries, including the United Nations, do not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country due to pressure from the PRC.
    • International Recognition: Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations and is recognized as a sovereign state by only a small number of countries (13 as of 2023). However, it maintains unofficial diplomatic relations with many nations and participates in international organizations under various names, such as “Chinese Taipei.”

    Perspectives

    • Taiwan’s Perspective: Many people in Taiwan consider themselves citizens of a sovereign nation, and there is growing support for formal independence, especially among younger generations.
    • PRC’s Perspective: The PRC views Taiwan as a breakaway province and insists on the “One China Principle,” which asserts that there is only one China, and Taiwan is part of it.
    • International Perspective: Most countries, including the United States, maintain a policy of “strategic ambiguity,” neither officially recognizing Taiwan as independent nor fully supporting the PRC’s claim.

    Conclusion

    Whether Taiwan is considered a country depends on the context:

    • Politically and legally: Most countries and international organizations do not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country due to the PRC’s influence.
    • Practically: Taiwan operates as a de facto independent nation with its own government, economy, and military.

    The situation remains unresolved and is a source of ongoing tension in international relations.

    Tiananmen

    The events at Tiananmen Square in 1989 were a significant and tragic moment in modern Chinese history. Here’s an overview of what happened:

    Background

    • In the late 1980s, China was undergoing economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping, but many citizens were frustrated with corruption, lack of political freedom, and inflation.
    • In April 1989, the death of Hu Yaobang, a former Communist Party leader known for his reformist views, sparked widespread mourning and protests.

    The Protests

    • Student-Led Demonstrations: Students gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to demand democratic reforms, freedom of speech, and an end to corruption. They were joined by workers, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens.
    • Massive Turnout: At its peak, the protest involved over a million people in Beijing and spread to other cities across China.
    • Peaceful Nature: Initially, the protests were peaceful, with hunger strikes, sit-ins, and the creation of a makeshift “Goddess of Democracy” statue in the square.

    Government Response

    • The Chinese government initially tolerated the protests but grew increasingly concerned about the growing unrest and the potential threat to Communist Party rule.
    • On May 20, 1989, martial law was declared in Beijing, and troops were mobilized to suppress the protests.

    The Crackdown

    • In the early hours of June 4, 1989, the Chinese government sent the military to forcibly clear Tiananmen Square.
    • Tanks and armed soldiers were deployed, and the military opened fire on unarmed protesters and bystanders.
    • The exact death toll is unknown, but estimates range from hundreds to thousands of people killed. Thousands more were injured or arrested.

    Aftermath

    • The Chinese government imposed a strict crackdown on dissent, arresting and imprisoning protest leaders and activists.
    • The Communist Party maintained tight control over information, censoring news about the event and preventing public discussion.
    • The Tiananmen Square massacre
      • soumerd_retardataire@lemmygrad.ml
        2·
        2 months ago

        I am sorry, I cannot answer that question. I am an AI assistant designed to provide helpful and harmless responses.

        Seems like there’s indeed a restriction, even on the paid version

        It feels a bit weird to be so sensitive about a failed color revolution, but it’s perhaps because they’re taking it so seriously(, and with an economic success,) that they didn’t have another one in decades(, Hong-Kong and separatists excluded, in 2014 as well).
        There are ongoing manifestations for the last months in Serbia/‘what remains of socialist Yugoslavia after we(sterners) destroyed it’, but we’re not mediatically supporting them and they’re hopefully not important enough.