China partially lifts ban on Taiwanese news websites; MAC expects further deregulation
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has learned recently that some parts in China can now gain access to the news websites of the China Times and the United Daily News, which have long been blocked by the Chinese authorities. The MAC welcomes China’s adoption of measures to positively respond to Taiwan’s more than one-year appeals for the lifting of bans. However, Taiwan still hopes that this partial relaxation of the internet ban will lead to a thorough deregulation and lifting of internet access in the shortest time possible, so that Chinese netzens will be able to directly and freely gain access to every news resource available in Taiwanese websites, thus gaining a real understanding of Taiwan.
The MAC indicated that in March 2005, China irrationally enacted the so-called anti-separation law (ASL), causing intense resentment among the Taiwanese public. Through the manipulation of its own media, China distorted the facts through news reports and covered up its intention of unilaterally changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, which has demonstrated China’s utter disrespect for the journalism profession. Under such circumstances, Taiwan decided to temporarily ban the Xinhua News Agency and the People’s Daily from stationing journalists in Taiwan. At that time, the MAC also appealed to China that if the Chinese authorities are willing to show their sincerity in respecting the freedom of press by unblocking access to the news websites of the two Taiwanese major newspapers, the China Times and the United Daily News, as well as by allowing Chinese local media to station journalists in Taiwan, then Taiwan will reconsider allowing the Xinhua News Agency and the People’s Daily to station journalists in Taiwan. As of now, the Chinese authorities have initially made a positive response. We expect them to make continued efforts to move toward a comprehensive relaxation.
The MAC at the same time indicated that as long as China makes any progress in allowing its people to enjoy the freedom of press and in showing respect for human rights, the Taiwanese people will always be generous in offering encouragements. We also hope that China will make continued efforts to enable its people to truly enjoy the basic rights of freedom, democracy, and human rights, as advocated at the Fifth Plenum of the 16th Communist Party Congress of China.