Politics

Taiwan ranks top in Asia for press freedom

Taiwan continues to be the top-ranked Asian nation in France-based Reporters Without Borders latest press freedom index. (Courtesy of RSF)

• Publication Date：01/31/2013
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Rachel Chan

Taiwan was ranked the top Asian nation in the latest World Press Freedom Index released Jan. 30 by France-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The island finished 47th among 179 countries, outperforming South Korea, 50; Japan, 53; Hong Kong, 58; and Singapore, 149, according to the survey.

Rankings of the four Asian dragons all fell from the previous year, with Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Japan down 2, 4, 6, 14 and 31 places, respectively.

Benjamin Ismail, head of RSF Asia-Pacific, told a Taiwan news media outlet that the country’s ranking was affected by issues stemming from a local media merger.

Taipei City-headquartered Want Want China Times Group’s purchase of the Taiwan operations of Hong Kong-based Next Media Ltd. has given rise to concerns among certain groups about the establishment of a media monopoly.

ROC Presidential Office spokesman Fan-chiang Tai-chi said Jan. 11 that President Ma Ying-jeou remains committed to upholding press freedom and not interfering in Taiwan media mergers and acquisitions handled by the National Communications Commission and Fair Trade Commission.

“The NCC, which is an independent body, has full government support to propose a comprehensive, detailed and professional anti-monopoly bill after taking into consideration opinions from all sections of society,” Ma said. “Only by doing so can we construct a healthier media environment in Taiwan.”

According to the RSF index, Japan’s sharp fall is due to censorship of nuclear industry coverage during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crisis. The event was triggered after a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan March 11, 2011.

The survey also found Finland, Netherlands and Norway were the top three nations, while bringing up the rear were Laos, 168; Vietnam, 172; mainland China, 173; and North Korea, 178.

Launched in 2004, the annual press freedom index is based on a questionnaire sent to RSF partner organizations, its 150 correspondents worldwide, as well as journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists.

The report measures the level of freedom of information by six criteria: environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, media independence, pluralism, and transparency and infrastructure. (JSM)

Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw