Censorship in Taiwan

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Censorship in Taiwan was in effect when the government exercised strict media control during the martial law period in Taiwan from 1949 to 1987, carried over from the Nationalists which governed mainland China prior to retreating to Taiwan in 1949. Under martial law, the Kuomintang-ruled government engaged in censorship to prevent criticism of it, as part of its opposition to certain cultural products, and as a feature of anti-communist campaigns against the Chinese Communist Party. Media control was greatly relaxed when the state moved away from authoritarianism in 1987.

Contents

History

Japanese period

In 1936 the Japanese authorities prohibited Lee Shih-chiao from exhibiting his painting Reclining Nude (橫臥裸婦) at the Taiyang Art Exhibition on the basis of indecency. This instigated widespread protest from the Taiwanese art community as comparable works by western artists were held by Japanese and Taiwanese museums. [1]

Under increasing pressure from Japan, authorities in the foreign concessions and elsewhere in China censored productions of the popular Sergei Tretyakov play, Roar, China! [2] : 239 

Republic of China on mainland (1912-1949)

Film censorship in China began in July 1923, with the establishment of the Film Censorship Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Education Association in Jiangsu. The committee set out specific requirements for film censorship, such as that films must be submitted for review, and that films that failed to pass must be deleted and corrected, or else they would not be allowed to be screened. The committee was a non-government organization mostly composed of educators, and filmmakers did not comply with the requirements, which made its attempt at censorship ineffective. [3] : 7–8 

In 1926, the Hangzhou Film Censorship Board became the first in China to cooperate work with the police to implement censorship. The Beijing government also established the Film Censorship Committee in the same year. Censorship included issues of morality and crime, indecency, obstruction of diplomatic relations, and material deemed insulting to China. The relatively weak local control of the ROC government limited the practical effect of these efforts. [3] : 7–8 

Over time, the Nationalist government increasingly censored cultural products in an effort to oppose communist ideology. [4] : 121  These efforts increased during the Nanjing period and included a national censorship apparatus established as part of the Kuomintang's "Arts of the Three Principles of the People" cultural campaign. [4] : 121  This program sought to censor cultural products deemed unwelcomed by the KMT, such as works by left-wing artists or writers. [4] : 121–122 

In July 1930, the ROC government established the Film and Drama Censorship Committee in Nanjing. In 1931, the Executive Yuan passed the Film Censorship Law, and the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Interior of the Nanjing Government jointly established the Film Censorship Committee. In May 1934, the Film Censorship Council was reorganized into the Central Film Censorship Committee, [note 1] which became the official film censorship Institution. [5] : 9–10 

The 1930s were a period of nationalism in China. Patriotic sentiment was strong in China, and the Kuomintang government often accused foreign films of insulting China. For example, the 1934 release of the American film "Welcome Danger" was accused by Hong Shen of degrading the Chinese and he had a dispute with the cinema manager. The film was eventually banned by the government. [5] : 9–10 

In 1932, the "Outline of the Enforcement of the Film Censorship Law" banned depicting obscene and unchaste acts; depicting those who use tricks or violence against the opposite sex to satisfy their lust; depicting incest directly or indirectly; depicting women undressed and naked in an abnormal manner; depicting women giving birth or abortion. [5] : 9–10 

In 1941, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the second volume of the book "Inside Asia", by John Gunther, was prohibited and censored by the Chinese government. [6] Following the 1942-1943 American dollar bond scandal, Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek blocked newspapers from publishing the corruption allegations against finance minister H.H. Kung, also one of Chiang's relatives through marriage. [7] : 75–79 

In the 1940s, the ROC government sought to prevent the release of Hollywood films which it viewed as insulting to China or Chinese people. [2] : 214 

Martial law on Taiwan

After Taiwan was handed over the Kuomintang-led Republic of China (ROC) from Japan in 1945 and the start of the 38 year martial law period, the ROC, as an authoritarian state, exercised strict control of the media. Parties other than the Kuomintang, such as the Chinese Youth Party and China Democratic Socialist Party, were banned and media advocating either democracy or Taiwan independence was banned. Li Ao, a famous political activist in Taiwan, nationalist, and intellectual, had over 96 books banned from sale. Writer Bo Yang was jailed for eight years for his translation of the cartoon Popeye because the translation was interpreted as a criticism of leader Chiang Kai-shek. Taiwanese-language media was also banned, and children who spoke Taiwanese in school were physically punished. The revision of Criminal Acts against seditious speech in 1992 ended the persecution of political opponents.[ citation needed ]

Musician Wen Hsia became known as the "king of banned songs" due to having more than 100 songs banned by the KMT authorities. [8]

Post-democratization

According to Reporters Without Borders, Taiwan "generally respects the principles of media freedom." [9] According to Freedom House, "technical censorship is not routine in Taiwan." [10]

Political censorship in Taiwan

Laws governing elections and politics restrict the publication and broadcasting of political material. For example, in the local elections of 2005, CDs with videos ridiculing candidates were confiscated in accordance to the Election and Recall Act. Laws prohibiting the promotion of Communism has already abolished in 2011. [11] For example, Taiwan Communist Party obtaining registration as a political party in 2008, and become the 141st registered party in Taiwan. [12]

Publication censorship in Taiwan

During the martial law period the KMT, the only paper to feature occasional moderate criticisms of the government (along with some of the best news reporting) was the Independence Evening Post . The publication was the first to send journalists to China four months after the lifting of martial law, despite government opposition. [13]

Cross-strait relations

The use of overt and covert censorship in relation to mainland China and the People's Republic of China is an active area of controversy. For example, satellite channels perceived to adopt a pro-PRC or pro-unification editorial stance, such as Phoenix TV, were refused landing rights in Taiwan by the DPP-controlled government. Similarly, correspondent offices representing the PRC government-controlled Xinhua News Agency and the People's Daily were closed by the DPP-controlled government. These policies were reversed after the election of the Kuomintang in 2008. [14]

Internet censorship in Taiwan

According to a survey conducted by Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry, an NGO, 81.8% of households had access to the Internet at the end of 2011.[ citation needed ]

The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the authorities generally respect these rights in practice. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combine to protect freedom of speech and press. There are no official restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the authorities monitor e-mail or Internet chat rooms without judicial oversight. [15]

In 2016 when the Taiwanese government proposed amendments to the Copyright Act that sparked concerns about online freedom of speech and expression. The proposed changes aimed to combat online piracy but were criticized for potentially infringing on individuals’ rights to freedom of speech. [16]

Future of censorship in Taiwan

The authority for censorship in Taiwan since 2006 is the National Communications Commission (NCC). [17] On 26 June 2006 news reports said that a review by the Council of Grand Justices of the ROC found that part of the National Communications Commission Organization Act (e.g. Article 4) is unconstitutional, and that after 31 December 2008 the law provision is invalid. [18]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 中央电影检查委员会

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References

  1. ↑ Cheung, Han (12 July 2020). "Taiwan in Time: Private parts not allowed". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 Gao, Yunxiang (2021). Arise, Africa! Roar, China! Black and Chinese Citizens of the World in the Twentieth Century. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN   9781469664606.
  3. 1 2 Wang, Xiaoya (2018). 民国电影检查的主题与问题1932‑1937 ：以辱华、左翼、肉感为重点 [Issues and problems of film censorship in Republican China (1932–1937) : with a focus on Insulting Chinese, the left wing and sensuality] (Master thesis). Nanyang Technological University. doi: 10.32657/10220/46621 . hdl: 10220/46621 . Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  4. 1 2 3 Laikwan, Pang (2024). One and All: The Logic of Chinese Sovereignty. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. doi:10.1515/9781503638822. ISBN   9781503638815.
  5. 1 2 3 Wang, Xiaoya (2018). 民国电影检查的主题与问题1932‑1937 ：以辱华、左翼、肉感为重点 [Issues and problems of film censorship in Republican China (1932–1937) : with a focus on Insulting Chinese, the left wing and sensuality] (Master thesis). Nanyang Technological University. doi: 10.32657/10220/46621 . hdl: 10220/46621 . Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  6. ↑ The China Monthly Review. Vol. 96–97. J.W. Powell. 1941. p. 379. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  7. ↑ Coble, Parks M. (2023). The Collapse of Nationalist China: How Chiang Kai-shek Lost China's Civil War. Cambridge New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-1-009-29761-5.
  8. ↑ Kuan-yin, Yeh; Lo, James (7 April 2022). "Taiwan's 'king of banned songs' Wen Hsia dies at 93". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Taiwan | RSF". Reporters Without Borders . 2023-12-13. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  10. ↑ "Taiwan: Freedom on the Net 2023 Country Report". Freedom House . Archived from the original on 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  11. ↑ 不得主張共產分裂國土 刪除 Archived 2015-02-06 at the Wayback Machine ，中央社，2011/05/16 (in Chinese)
  12. ↑ 陳思穎 台北報導，〈人民可主張共產！　內政部：「台灣共產黨」申請備案獲准〉 Archived 2012-09-04 at archive.today ，《NOWnews》2008-08-12 (in Chinese)
  13. ↑ Han Cheung (11 September 2016). "Taiwan in time: Freedom of the press, China style". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  14. ↑ Zeldin, Wendy. "China; Taiwan: Reunification Talks Resume After Almost a Decade". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-28. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  15. ↑ "Taiwan" Archived 2022-06-11 at the Wayback Machine , Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 22 March 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "TIPO announces draft amendments to Copyright Law". www.iam-media.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  17. ↑ "National Communications Commission Organization Act", Presidential Announcement, Gazette of the Office of the President No. 6658, November 9, 2005. Archived 15 August 2007.
  18. ↑ "Experimenting Independent Commissions in Taiwan's Civil Administrative Law System: Perils and Prospects" Archived June 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine , Jiunn-rong Yeh, Workshop on Comparative Administrative Law, Yale Law School, 8 May 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
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