China's Taiwan Affairs Office reportedly meddles with news reporting in Taiwan
Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/17
By: Teng Pei-ju, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Protesters rally in Taipei on June 23 against the “red media” in Taiwan (Source: CNA)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwan-based media conglomerate, Want Want China Times Group, reportedly follows direct instructions from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), a government agency exercising Beijing’s policy towards Taiwan.
The editorial management of the China Times and CTiTV (CTI) receive calls on a daily basis from the Chinese authorities, which give directions as to how reports concerning cross-strait relations and China should be covered, reported the Financial Times on Tuesday (July 16).
“[TAO] have a say in the angle of the story and whether it goes on the front page,” Financial Times quoted a China Times reporter as saying.
The China Times and CTI issued a joint statement in the evening, denouncing the report as fake news with malicious intent. They said they would take legal action against individuals and media outlets citing or paraphrasing the content of the article. [FULL STORY]
