The election news from Taiwan is disappointing. In addition, from where I live in New York City, the media coverage is far from comprehensive.
Notable omissions from articles include alleged votebuying on the part of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). While the majority of people in Taiwan are aware of these allegations, many US newspapers ignore this.
Another concern is that US newspapers seem to report primarily from Taipei or even outside of Taiwan while failing to devote equal attention to the more heavily native Taiwanese south -- especially Tainan.
I have lived in Tainan and made visits for more than 20 years and have never seen the views of Tainan's residents represented in the pages of US newspapers. Few, if any, sources from the south are quoted.
Sending reporters to places other than Taipei would be a good start for US newspapers to show that they strive to report on Taiwan objectively and comprehensively.
Readers would not tolerate the kind of incomplete reporting US papers produce on Taiwan if it concerned stories from New York City or New York State.
Readers of North American newspapers are not getting the full, true story of the Taiwanese presidential election.
Howard Sage
New York
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