Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) yesterday urged Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) not to be the “executioner” of press freedom and democracy in Taiwan.
Chiang made the comment as the National Communications Commission (NCC) held a hearing on CTi News’ license renewal.
“If you can shut down news channel A today, then will you shut down news channel B tomorrow?” Chiang asked. “The greatest significance of democracy is that people can raise questions and can take part in politics,” he said. “Our media can dig out inside stories and related issues.”
Photo: CNA
“This is also the most important meaning of democracy, which is freedom of speech and freedom of the press. However, today, we see the government hiring ‘Internet armies’ in large numbers, buying advertisements and using taxpayers’ money to brainwash them,” he said.
“Now, you are also shutting down the media that ... may criticize and supervise you,” Chiang said.
“This is not just the threat that a certain news station or certain media might face,” Chiang said. “More importantly, what you are threatening is people’s freedom, as well as Taiwan’s democracy.”
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Chiang urged the commission not to let administrative or political power interfere with its decision.
KMT Institute of Revolutionary Practice director Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said that starting yesterday he would be running advertisements for 60 days on bus routes that stop in front of the Executive Yuan.
Advertisements reading “Su Tseng-chang, do not be a democratic sinner who shuts down news stations” are to appear on the sides of 20 buses, he said.
“This is not speaking out for CTi News,” he said. “This is speaking out for freedom of the press.”
“If CTi News is shut down today ... the next to be closed would be freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and the freedom of every citizen to speak out and supervise the government,” he said. “Taiwan’s democracy cannot turn back.”
Several groups gathered outside the Legislative Yuan building and the commission’s offices in Taipei to express their support for CTi News.
Protesters set up stages at both locations and several politicians delivered speeches, while police mobilized hundreds of officers to maintain safety.
One group called the Third Force 333 Political Party Solidarity Alliance threatened to move the protest from outside the commission’s offices on Jinan Road (濟南路) to the Executive Yuan.
However, police said that the groups had only obtained permission for an assembly and not a parade.
Upon seeing that the crowds intended to move toward the Executive Yuan, police formed a human wall to block them, resulting in a momentary clash with the protesters.
Meanwhile, a separate group comprised of members of the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan, Free Taiwan Party and other pro-independence organizations held a counterprotest outside the commission’s offices, urging the commission to revoke CTi News’ operating license.
The protesters carried placards that bore messages such as “Halt CTi’s collusion with China,” “Stop selling out Taiwan to China” and “Abolish the NCC if it gives in to renewing the license.”
Police formed a barricade to separate the group from those supporting CTi News.
“Our society must not allow pro-China media’s propaganda on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party to brainwash Taiwanese,” alliance director Lo Yi (羅宜) said.
“It is shameful that some politicians have spoken up to defend ‘media freedom’ in support of CTi News. This is highly misleading, as they ignore that CTi News has been broadcasting fabricated news stories and misinformation to deceive the public,” he said.
Additional reporting by Jason Pan and Wang Kuan-jen
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
RSS