CTiTV yesterday filed a defamation lawsuit against United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) for calling the TV channel a “bandit network.”
CTiTV chairman Liao Li-sheng (廖麗生) and reporter Lin Chen-yu (林宸佑) went to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office to file a criminal defamation suit, as well as a civil claim for NT$500 million (US$16.28 million).
The network said that if it wins the suit, it would use the money to set up a fund to help schools across Taiwan “rebuild the declining values of propriety, justice, integrity, honor and respect for democracy.”
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Tsao in a statement called the suit “outrageous” and “clearly baseless.”
“Once [CTiTV] loses,” Tsao vowed to countersue the TV channel for NT$5 billion, to be donated to national defense.
The dispute arose from a news conference that Tsao held on Thursday, during which Lin asked Tsao if he was questioning the COVID-19 measures of former minister of health and welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) by criticizing China’s “zero COVID-19” policy as “foolish.”
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
After calling the question a trap and refusing to answer, Tsao called CTiTV a “bandit network,” using the term once used in Taiwanese politics to refer to Chinese communists.
A few questions later, he urged people not to watch CTiTV, saying that it is “worse than children reading filthy comics.”
“Robert Tsao’s outright slander and insults have not only harmed CTiTV’s reputation, but also damaged the education of children across Taiwan, trampled on Taiwanese morals and scorned freedom of speech,” Liao said. “CTiTV has no choice but to sue.”
Lin said that his question about “zero COVID-19” was something people across Taiwan wanted to know.
Unable to answer, Tsao instead used insults and slander to avoid the question, Lin said, adding that he is just an “insignificant” journalist trying to do his job coming under attack by a powerful businessman.
Tsao said the media should respond through their own outlets if they take issue with what people say.
“Since Thursday, Want Want China Times Media Group has attacked me with more than 200 videos, and now a defamation suit,” he said. “It amounts to bullying and is a disgrace for the media to abuse judicial resources in an attempt to restrict an individual’s freedom of speech.”
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
The US Department of State on Monday reaffirmed that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, following US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “unification” while commenting on recent trade talks with China. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, Trump described what he viewed as progress in trade negotiations with China held in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. “They’ve agreed to open China — fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.” Trump’s use of the
RSS