Taiwanese authorities are investigating suspicions that a company linked to the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok is illegally operating from a base in Taiwan.

Taiwanese law bans commercial operations of Chinese social media platforms based in Taiwan.

Data from the economic affairs ministry show the company in question was registered in a building in the city of Taichung. It changed its name in November to one similar to the Chinese operator of TikTok.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, which is in charge of its China policy, says a working group pointed out the suspicions surrounding the company on December 9.

It says investigations have since been underway.

The council says the mainland has used short video platforms like TikTok in recent years to carry out "cognitive operations and infiltrations against other countries."

It says there is a high risk of the Chinese government having access to users' personal information.

Taiwan authorities also ban public offices from using Chinese apps like TikTok out of security concerns.