A government-backed English-language broadcaster in Taiwan has removed a video of its journalist in which he was seen calling US President-elect Donald Trump a “convicted criminal”.

Calling the incident “very serious”, the government ordered the agency to remove the video.

To be associated with Trump’s second administration, Taiwan congratulated Trump on his victory in the 2024 presidential election.

Washington has long been Taipei’s biggest supporter, but Trump raised concerns on the campaign trail, suggesting Taiwan should pay the US for its defense and accusing it of stealing the US semiconductor industry.

TaiwanPlus correspondent Louise Watt spoke on camera in the United States last week when she said, “The US will either vote for its first female president or its first convicted felon.”

“Well, America seems to have chosen the murderer,” Watt said in a clip shared by Taiwan’s TVBS and seen by AFP.

Taiwan’s Culture Minister Li Yuan told local media on Saturday that TaiwanPlus had removed the video after telling the broadcaster “that this issue is very serious.”

The Public Television Service Foundation, which runs TaiwanPlus, said on Monday that the broadcaster had “humbly revised its operating procedures” following the report.

The foundation said it would convene a “self-discipline” committee this week to “discuss the matter”.

TaiwanPlus broadcasts videos on its website, YouTube and cable television.

More than 90 percent of viewers are overseas, the foundation said.

In 2023, TaiwanPlus began appearing in US hotels in “key cities frequented by political and economic elites such as Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles and Seattle,” the foundation said.

(With contributions from agencies)