A local cable TV channel's recent decision to terminate a political commentary program hosted by Independent Legislator Sisy Chen (陳文茜) has unexpectedly triggered a debate on whether this genre of programs should bear specific political stances and whether their hosts face any political pressures.
Chen, who is often critical of the DPP's policy lines and administrative initiatives, said she has felt pressures in hosting the program.
The pressures mainly stem from her DPP friends' refusal to show up on her program on Star TV's Chinese channel and from pro-DPP business groups' reluctance to air commercials during her show's time slot, Chen explained.
"Many DPP supporters tend to label my program as a pan-blue one. They say the guests on my program are all pan-blue politicians. For me, this is a forced choice," she said.
According to Chen, DPP politicians have often turned down her invitations. In fact, Chen said she has lately refrained from inviting lawmakers of any political stripe to come onto her program and has endeavored to present only professional perspectives on her program.
Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康), a former New Party legislator who now operates a radio station and also hosts a political commentary program on Star TV's Chinese channel, frankly admitted that he has never hesitated to air his own political views on his program.
"I'd rather come across as looking like a bad guy than as a hypocrite. I have never thought that I should maintain neutrality or impartiality on my program," Jaw said.
Fortunately, Jaw said, he has not felt any political pressures for his pro-pan-blue political stances as Chen has. He attributed their different fates, in part, to their previous political records.
"Everybody knows I'm President Chen Shui-bian's (
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