They are making a calculation that a global run on masks would hurt efforts to contain spread due to shortages for medical professionals confronting the virus everyday, as opposed to general public confrontation which is more sporadic.

Should they just come out and say that? Probably. Would it be effective? No people are irrational in crisis and their words wouldn't prevent the above scenario.

They made a calculated choice with their language which is misleading, but necessarily so. You can disagree with it, but it's far from "spreading misinformation for political reasons".

FWIW I agree re masks but withholding information from Taiwan to appease the CCP is inexcusable. Luckily the Taiwanese are far more competent than their counterparts in this farce.

Your second statement is a far ways away from your first one.

I disagree. Omitting critical information is a (more advanced) form of disinformation.

You don't release disinformation to help fight the spread of a virus, you release it to hurt government's ability to do so.

The term isn't interchangeable with lying, it's purpose-driven.