In praise of Page 8
Page 8 of the Taipei Times was on fire on Oct. 20.
The editorial “Missiles, leaks and really odd timing,” makes it abundantly clear that Democratic Progressive Party forces within the military leaked information on missile tests so that economic cooperation framework agreement (EFCA) talks got pushed back. No surprises there, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) don’t want any missile news on their radar. Pun intended!
If the tests were successful, does the KMT government want it hushed up? Probably, as it doesn’t want to appear either capable or aggressive in the wake of “talks.”
Then there was “Closing schools and low birthrates.” While reading the penultimate paragraph, a sudden vision kept coming into focus. This paragraph is what an ECFA will lead to, as has been noted frequently in the Taipei Times (and imagery-wise, it’s scary!)
Jerome Keating’s piece was ... how to put it? On the mark? Correct! Funny? Certainly! To me, it is a very good critique of Mr President.
As for “Illusions about Chinese goodwill,” you can see what you get when you deal with the Chinese. The Dalai Lama fled after making agreements with the CCP; Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) got 100 years even though he too arranged agreements with the CCP during his term as president.
Chen was labeled a troublemaker and now anyone who opposes the KMT-CCP alliance is labeled the same.
With the government weak and eager for the EFCA agreement, invocations of mass layoffs are quite frightful. Moreover, leaders who have done deals with China always appear to eventually be punished. Someone’s got something coming to them.
Taipei
The NCC responds
Regarding the story “NCC criticized following Hoklo, China complaints,” published in the Taipei Times on Oct. 16 [page 2], the National Communications Commission (NCC) finds the questioning of its behavior, which carried the implications of contentious action and even violation of freedom of speech, grossly inaccurate. To deepen understanding of the facts, the NCC wishes to clarify its position on this case.
The NCC, as an independent regulatory body responsible for the Taiwanese broadcasting industry, invariably manages public opinions in a professional manner consistent with the law. According to Article 11 of the Public Television Act (公共電視法), the service shall operate independently without interference.
In addition, Article 46 of the same law stipulates if a viewer considers that a Public Television Service (PTS) program has violated the provisions of Article 36 to Article 41, he/she may send a written complaint with specific facts to PTS within 15 days of the broadcast of the program. PTS shall state its reasons and the methods for reconsideration in case the complainant does not accept its disposition, in a written response to the complainant within 30 days of receiving the complaint.
Therefore, while the NCC accepts public opinions on PTS broadcasts, they are invariably handed over to PTS to be dealt with by its own law and concerns.
This is a fundamental principle that the NCC or the former official authority have always acted in accordance with. Thus, any accusation of restricting freedom of speech is simply untrue.
The media are enterprises of special permission and social instruments. In addition, PTS “belongs to the entire body of citizens” and has been established as a mass communication system for the public.
Consequently, audiences usually show higher expectation for PTS and its programs.
Hence, PTS should consider and respect public criticism and exercise self-examination to help serve its social responsibility more effectively.
DR BONNIE PENG
Chairperson,
National Communications Commission
There are moments in history when America has turned its back on its principles and withdrawn from past commitments in service of higher goals. For example, US-Soviet Cold War competition compelled America to make a range of deals with unsavory and undemocratic figures across Latin America and Africa in service of geostrategic aims. The United States overlooked mass atrocities against the Bengali population in modern-day Bangladesh in the early 1970s in service of its tilt toward Pakistan, a relationship the Nixon administration deemed critical to its larger aims in developing relations with China. Then, of course, America switched diplomatic recognition
The international women’s soccer match between Taiwan and New Zealand at the Kaohsiung Nanzih Football Stadium, scheduled for Tuesday last week, was canceled at the last minute amid safety concerns over poor field conditions raised by the visiting team. The Football Ferns, as New Zealand’s women’s soccer team are known, had arrived in Taiwan one week earlier to prepare and soon raised their concerns. Efforts were made to improve the field, but the replacement patches of grass could not grow fast enough. The Football Ferns canceled the closed-door training match and then days later, the main event against Team Taiwan. The safety
The National Immigration Agency on Tuesday said it had notified some naturalized citizens from China that they still had to renounce their People’s Republic of China (PRC) citizenship. They must provide proof that they have canceled their household registration in China within three months of the receipt of the notice. If they do not, the agency said it would cancel their household registration in Taiwan. Chinese are required to give up their PRC citizenship and household registration to become Republic of China (ROC) nationals, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said. He was referring to Article 9-1 of the Act
The Chinese government on March 29 sent shock waves through the Tibetan Buddhist community by announcing the untimely death of one of its most revered spiritual figures, Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche. His sudden passing in Vietnam raised widespread suspicion and concern among his followers, who demanded an investigation. International human rights organization Human Rights Watch joined their call and urged a thorough investigation into his death, highlighting the potential involvement of the Chinese government. At just 56 years old, Rinpoche was influential not only as a spiritual leader, but also for his steadfast efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan identity and cultural
RSS