Taiwan elections: mainland Chinese reporters on short-term permits ‘can only observe’ as island votes for new president
- Post reporter with mainland China passport among journalists forced to cancel travel plans because of restriction
- Also, for the first time in decades, no mainland academics will be visiting Taiwan to observe the elections either
A Taiwanese immigration official, who declined to be named, said mainland journalists on short-term permits “can only observe” but were not allowed to write anything about the elections, even if they cleared the application process to visit the island.
The restriction, which was not in place during previous elections held every four years, caused a mainland Chinese reporter from the South China Morning Post to cancel plans to fly to Taiwan.
Journalists of non-mainland background from the same organisation, however, were not affected. It also does not affect mainland reporters based in Taiwan, who are allowed to cover the election.
The reporting restriction, which appears to target mainland citizens, comes against the backdrop of a spike in distrust and hostility between Taipei and Beijing in the lead-up to the widely watched election.
The move has also raised questions about freedom of the press in the democratically governed island, which is also one of the key talking points in the campaign language of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).