Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Vanessa Shih (史亞平) said yesterday that she hoped both sides of the Taiwan Strait could begin negotiations next year on allowing Taiwanese TV stations to set up branches in China and vice versa.
At a press conference to highlight the GIO’s achievements over the past year, Shih said the issue should be included on the agenda during next year’s cross-strait talks.
The issue should be negotiated under a framework of equality and reciprocity, while the nation’s interests, national security, the development of domestic TV stations and viewers’ rights should all be safeguarded, she said.
Shih said the office had also drafted a set of regulations that would allow actors and crew members from China to participate in the filming of domestic TV series in Taiwan.
But there would be a ceiling on the number of Chinese actors and crew members allowed to enter Taiwan, she said, adding that the GIO’s draft would ensure the rights of Taiwanese actors.
She said the move would help Taiwanese TV companies to sell their programs to China, adding that the new regulations would be publicized once the Executive Yuan had completed its review.
Meanwhile, Shih said the government has been deliberating over how to attract international filmmakers to shoot movies in Taiwan.
She said the government planned to simplify the application procedures for filmmakers who want to film in Taiwan.
In related developments, Shih said the GIO would propose a plan on how Public Television Service (PTS) should develop its operations in southern Taiwan by the end of next month.
“It is one of President Ma [Ying-jeou’s (馬英九)] campaign promises to facilitate PTS’ development in the south in a bid to ensure the rights of residents to access public media,” she said.
“The goal remains unchanged,” she said, adding that the GIO had formulated seven separate plans.
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