By Cai Siyun, Vision Times
A random stabbing attack occurred in Taipei, Taiwan, on December 19 (Friday). A 27-year-old assailant carried out attacks at multiple locations in the bustling Zhongshan district, killing four people and injuring eleven before jumping to his death. What struck many as bizarre was that mainland Chinese media reported the suspect’s fatal fall 26 minutes in advance, raising suspicions that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may have had a hidden hand behind the incident.
According to a report by FTV News Network and as seen on various social media sites, the attack occurred in Taipei on the evening of the 19th. The alleged assailant, Zhang Wen, carried out violent assaults near Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan Station, resulting in four deaths and eleven injuries, triggering widespread public anxiety.
Initial police investigations indicated that Zhang did not act on impulse but carried out the attack with premeditation. Beginning at around 4:00 p.m. that afternoon, he allegedly committed arson and knife attacks at multiple locations, with the entire violent even lasting more than three hours.
According to information released by police, between 3:40 p.m. and 3:54 p.m., Zhang rode a heavy motorcycle to three locations in Taipei’s Zhongshan District, where he set fires, damaging two passenger cars and three heavy motorcycles. He then returned to his rented home on Gongyuan Road in Zhongzheng District to change clothes.
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At 4:53 p.m., he allegedly set fire at his flat, then walked to Taipei Main Station on the MRT, entering through Exit M8. Beginning at 5:23 p.m., he threw smoke bombs along the corridor between Exits M8 and M7 of Taipei Main Station and attacked a man surnamed Yu with a knife, killing him and injuring three others.
At 5:55 p.m., Zhang walked to the Qianhui Hotel on Nanjing West Road in Datong District. After leaving the hotel 40 minutes later, he carried out another knife attack in front of the Eslite Nanxi store, killing a motorcyclist surnamed Hsiao and injuring another person. He then entered the store and continued attacking members of the public, resulting in one additional death and five injuries.
A police officer surnamed Lin from the Zhongshan Traffic Division noticed suspicious activity while directing traffic and, together with security personnel, pursued the suspect to the rooftop of the sixth floor. At 6:40 p.m., Zhang climbed onto the rooftop and removed his tactical vest and other equipment. At 6:50 p.m., he fell from the rooftop and was rushed to the hospital. At 7:42 p.m., he was pronounced dead by hospital staff.
Taiwanese political activist and musician Xu Xiaohua (Hana Hsu) wrote in a Facebook post that at 6:24 p.m., while the incident was still unfolding, mainland Chinese media outlet Kankan News had already released multi-angle footage from the scene and announced that Zhang Wen had fallen to his death. However, according to the action timeline released by Taipei police, Zhang was still actively committing crimes during that period and did not fall from the building until 6:50 p.m. The fact that mainland media reported his death 26 minutes early has raised serious doubts.
After the post circulated, it sparked extensive online discussion. Some netizens commented:
“The timing is far too coincidental—if they didn’t know in advance, how could they obtain multi-angle footage immediately?”
“Were specific personnel already deployed near the scene?”
“It’s obvious the CCP knew about it.”
“Unbelievable—they even predicted the suspect’s fall in advance. It’s like they wanted everyone to know it was premeditated.”
“This really is a fifth column.”
“The killer was highly organized and professional—burning down places beforehand to destroy evidence.”
Overseas Chinese media commentator Li Muyang stated on his program that the Zhang Wen case is riddled with suspicious points. One issue involves discrepancies in the suspect’s equipment based on photo comparisons. At 5:23 p.m. in the MRT station, the suspect was wearing a hat and mask, without wrist guards, knee pads, or gloves. However, the suspect seen on Nanjing West Road was not wearing a mask but was wearing wrist guards, knee pads, and gloves. Li questioned whether it was truly the same person.
Li Muyang also relayed information from an alleged insider during his program, stating:
“He [Zhang Wen] is a scapegoat. The real perpetrators have escaped—there were more than three of them. He was used to take the blame, allowing the masterminds and the network behind the scenes to be separated and concealed. All clues were deliberately simplified into a single case, enabling those behind the plot to remain hidden, adjust their strategy, and continue operating. The true core operation has yet to surface.”
In addition, a post appeared on the social media platform Threads in which a user claimed:
“The main character Zhang Wen is my brother—we are part of the same organization. I will continue the mission he failed to complete today. The next location is Kaohsiung Main Station—stay tuned.”
“There will be an even bigger incident waiting for you on December 25.”
Taiwanese netizens later traced the account and discovered its IP address was located in Vietnam. The user subsequently deleted the account, but Taiwanese police have already launched an investigation.
Li Muyang also remarked that it was astonishing that mainland Chinese media reported the incident earlier than Taiwanese media. He noted that Taiwanese netizens suspect the attack may have been carried out by a CCP “fifth column” operating in Taiwan, refering to individuals or groups embedded internally who secretly cooperate with external hostile forces to conduct sabotage or subversion.
The CCP has long harbored designs on Taiwan, which it sees as its own territory, and as the likelihood of a successful armed invasion decreases, the CCP may activate sleeper forces planted within Taiwan. Therefore, vigilance is essential, Li said.
Netizens commenting on Li’s video wrote:
“I strongly believe this was the fifth column being activated to destabilize Taiwan.”
“Local media hadn’t even reported it yet, but the other side of the strait already had—this was clearly premeditated.”
“After the U.S. announced its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan, the CCP moved—it’s meant to create chaos.”
“The more unstable China’s internal political situation becomes, the more it stirs up trouble abroad to divert attention.”
