January 8, 2013
No. 003
In response to the Mainland’s media censorship which forced Southern Weekly to change its New Year editorial, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) hereby states that respect for freedom of the press is a universal value and that the media's freedom of speech should be safeguarded. Furthermore, the MAC is deeply concerned about developments related to freedom of the press in the Mainland. It is hoped that the Mainland may experience Taiwan's free press environment through cross-strait media interactions and exchanges, and further promote the reciprocal flow of information across the Strait, thus provide momentum for media reform in the Mainland.
Furthermore, regarding the Taiwanese public’s much concerned issue of performance restrictions for Taiwanese artists in the Mainland, the MAC emphasizes that cultural performances demonstrate the diversity of society and that respect shown for cultural and artistic creations reflects the progress and tolerance of a society. The MAC therefore calls on the Mainland to respect the freedom of creation for cultural performances, and to also give the cultural and arts industry room for development.