The nation's government lifted a half-century ban on Chinese media yesterday, allowing reporters from China to be based in Taiwan, the Government Information Office and the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday.
The policy will allow Chinese media organizations to dispatch to Taiwan two reporters each, who can stay up to one month per posting. The reporters will have to be invited by Taiwan media organizations in accordance with existing regulations.
One Taiwanese media organization will have to apply on behalf of one Chinese media organization a month before the arrival of the reporters.
"It's not yet a formal, long-term stationing of reporters," said Vice Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council Chen Ming-tung (
"To attain this goal requires official negotiation," he said.
It had been reported in the Taiwan media before yesterday's announcement that four Chinese media organizations would spearhead the posting of reporters to Taiwan. Lee Cher-jean (
Lee said different types of media organizations would be considered "for the sake of balanced reporting." When to increase the number of media organizations would hinge on how well the two sides cooperate and observe the rules, Lee said.
Chen said that in comparison with coverage of China in most of Taiwan's major newspapers, coverage of Taiwanese affairs in the Chinese media was insufficient. The council had therefore decided to allow permits for Chinese reporters in the hope of correcting the imbalance and presenting a realistic picture of Taiwan to China.
In the past, Taiwan was reluctant to open its door to Chinese reporters owing to concerns over Chinese reporters' objectivity and the fear that they would spy.
But as efforts have expanded for bilateral relations across the Taiwan Strait, journalistic exchanges have become an unavoidable issue.
"Any cross-strait exchange implies risk [to state security]," Chen said, adding that no one was entitled to threaten national security.
"Failure is not an option," Chen said of the government's attitude toward the new policy, adding that the course was as perilous as "wading across a river on stepping stones."
"Taiwan respects press freedom and we won't interfere with Chinese reporters' news," Lee said when asked whether reporting content would be restricted.
Chinese reporters will be provided with press accreditation and enjoy almost the same journalistic rights as local reporters. "It's up to all the government offices to decide whether to accept interviews with them," Lee said.
In principle, Chinese reporters will be stationed in the Taipei area. But they can apply in advance to go outside Taipei to report.
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