The lifting of bans on Taiwanese news Web sites in China will play an important role in any decision permitting the return to Taiwan of correspondents from Xinhua and the People's Daily, Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu (
Wu said the council would examine whether Chinese media reports were factual and whether Beijing would allow access to Taiwanese news sites before allowing further journalistic exchange.
Wu's remarks followed the council's decision on Sunday to cancel authorization for Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily journalists in Taiwan. It has since said that Beijing should, at the very least, lift Internet bans on two Taiwanese papers, the China Times and the United Daily News.
"Apart from repeatedly urging China to allow public access to Taiwan's online news sites, we've also been working to attract other media organizations to Taiwan," Wu said yesterday, adding that increased cooperation with Hong Kong media outlets was in the works.
Rejecting criticism that it is violating freedom of the press, the council said that the recent halt on Xinhua and People's Daily activities was in accordance with an overall assessment of cross-strait exchanges. It also said reports carried in Xinhua and the People's Daily were often distorted and detrimental to improving relations with China. Correspondents from three other Chinese media organizations remain in Taiwan.
Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office has called on the council to reverse its decision and "urges the Taiwan authorities to `remove unreasonable obstacles' and `correct its erroneous ways' as soon as possible," according to Xinhua yesterday.
Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Li Weiyi (
The council was especially critical of Chinese state media outlets, pointing to specific headlines and stories that "fell short" of its journalistic standards.
On Wednesday, Wu displayed several Chinese newspaper headlines, including "People on the island feel the Anti-Secession Law is an opportunity for cross-strait development," "Taiwan's academic circles think the Anti-Secession Law is a goodwill gesture," and "Five major non-governmental organizations in Taiwan reject secession and anticipate peaceful unification."
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
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