U.S. State Dept. on Taiwan Freedom of Press
Dioneae muscipula
answered reporter's question on issues on Taiwan freedom of press. Mr.
McCormack even mentioned TVBS when the reporter did not.
Read the whole Daily Press Briefing session in
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2005/55906.htm
where the related question and answer are:
......
QUESTION: Yes, sir. Yes, on Taiwan and the issue of
freedom of press. Does the State Department
today have any response to the Chen
Administration's attempt to shut down a major
cable news network for its coverage of government
corruption and scandal?
MR. MCCORMACK: This is in regard to the TVBS?
QUESTION: Yes.
MR. MCCORMACK: I would say on that that the United States
places great importance on freedom of the press which,
as we all know and have talked about, is a key
democratic principle. We understand that Taiwan
leaders and Taiwan people also place great importance
on press freedom and we hope this will continue to be
guaranteed in Taiwan.
......
Dioneae muscipula
paper on handling the TVBS Ownership Structure Issue. Read the
document by Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan)
in
http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/4-oa/20051103/2005110301.html
In conclusion, GIO wrote:
The GIO's position on TVBS's shareholding structure is clear and void
of a predetermined stance. Furthermore, TVBS's views and standpoints do
not play a part in the investigation, which is being conducted with due
respect for press freedom.
Dioneae muscipula
Times that Taiwan yesterday faced criticism over the decision to fine
TVBS station for alleged violation of foreign ownership laws.
Read the article in
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/01ed7f5a-5182-11da-ac3b-0000779e2340.html
An outline of the article:
* The Government Information Office, the cabinet-level media regulator,
fined TVBS, a subsidiary of Hong Kong's Television Broadcast
Limited, T$1m ($29,700, €25,300, £17,000) late on Tuesday,
arguing that the island's satellite broadcasting law did not allow
100 per cent foreign ownership.
* Taiwan's satellite broadcasting law sets a 50 per cent limit on
"direct" foreign ownership of local broadcasters.
* The move came after a daily political talk show broadcast on TVBS's
news channel accused the government of corruption.
* President Chen has pledged that no broadcaster would be shut down
by his government but the GIO threatened continued fines or even
revocation of the station's broadcasting licence if TVBS did not
change its ownership structure by December 20.
* The Association of Taiwan Journalists called the GIO's move
"inappropriate".
* Legal experts said shell companies set up for the purpose of hiding
the identity of investors were common in Taiwan and TVB's ownership
of the broadcaster could be seen as running counter to the spirit of
the law, but diplomats said the GIO's move hurt Taiwan's reputation.
Dioneae muscipula
Daily of UCLA Asia Institute carried the story by Lawrence Chung. Read
the article in
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-eastasia.asp?parentid=33257
An outline of the article:
* TVBS issued the statement "TVBS respects and works with [decisions
by the GIO] in the legal way, but TVBS sees any punishment that
strays from the legal way as unacceptable."
* GIO Director Yao Wen-chih said TVBS' capital structure indicated that
the station was 100 per cent owned by foreign interests. He said the
station must rectify the situation before December 20 or face more
punishments. Yao noted that the two shareholders of TVBS - TVB
Investment, a Hong Kong company incorporated in Bermuda, and
Countless Entertainment - were both foreign investors.
* TVBS argued that as long as Countless was registered in Taiwan, it
was considered a local company.
* Outspoken independent legislator Li Ao said, "What Hsieh Chang-ting
and Yao Wen-chih did was very mean, like questioning a prostitute
for failing to keep her virginity in a brothel.
* Taiwanese media outlets have warned that if the government went by
the book and investigated the capital structure of local firms with
foreign interests, it would lead to a capital flight out of the
island.