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Chen urges media to keep national security in mind

To commemorate Journalists' Day tomorrow, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday held talks over tea with local reporters and encouraged them to weigh national security while upholding the freedom of the press.

"The pursuit of 100 percent freedom of press and speech has to be made with the precondition of safeguarding the country's national security," Chen said.

The president was commenting on recent trials involving journalists who were charged with violations of national security in their reporting.

Chen said that having been an opposition leader, he was well aware that the people's freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution. However, he said that national security concerned the safety of 23 million people and must take priority.

He expressed his dissatisfaction with some reporters. "[There were times that] I just could not understand whether some reporters are actually reporters from Taiwan or from the People's Republic of China," Chen said.

Chen yesterday also spoke about his meeting with People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) last month.

Chen said that at that meeting he had invited Soong to head the cross-strait panel of the Economic Development Advisory Conference and to take up a post as conference vice convener.

Though Soong later refused the invitation, Chen said that he appreciated the PFP's assistance at the conference, along with that of KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰).
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