SUBMISSIVE: Young people are avoiding political issues for fear of being labeled pro-Taiwanese independence, Nylon Cheng Liberty Foundation head Cheng Tsing-hua said

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 09, 2018
By: Lee Hsin-fang  /  Staff reporter

Pressure from China, flawed legislation and self-censorship among Taiwanese youth are the biggest threats to the nation’s freedom of speech, Nylon Cheng Liberty Foundation managing director Cheng Tsing-hua (鄭清華) said on Saturday.

April 7 was designated Free Speech Day in 2016 to commemorate democracy advocate Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), who set himself on fire 29 years ago to protest against government restrictions on the freedom of speech.

Free speech in Taiwan still faces many threats, one of them being pressure from China, said Cheng, who is Deng’s younger brother.

China has been trying to restrict Taiwanese’s freedom of speech using its growing political and economic influence, he said.    [FULL  STORY]