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Taiwan complains of media controls at China talks

by Dave Keating | June 13, 2008 at 02:21 am | 125 views | add comment

Both Chinese and Taiwanese media struck a hopeful note about the meeting today between China and Taiwan, which it considers a break-away province. Much of the discussion, however, centered on media controls. Many analysts consider it inevitable that Taiwan will have to become part of China again in the next decade.

Chinese and Taiwanese officials were all smiles on Friday after signing a landmark deal on flights, but in one area Taiwan was not happy -- the controls on its normally freewheeling press corps.

Taiwan has a free, open and highly competitive media, some of whom accompanied the island's chief negotiator, P.K. Chiang, to Beijing for the talks, whereas China's state controlled press is tightly controlled and staid in comparison.

China limited access to the media for much of the talks, aside from a few photo opportunities, though the Taiwanese delegation held regular news conferences at which all were welcome.

"I've already spoken about the parts which were imperfect -- the other side's arrangement for our reporters," Chiang told a news conference after signing an agreement for direct, weekend charter flights between the two sides.