U.S. Congressman's Support in Question
(美議員:如臺不支援自由 美無必要支援臺)
By William Lowther, Taipei Times
Washington, May 5 - US Representative Dana Rohrabacher is threatening to end his strong legislative support for Taiwan as a result of Chunghwa Telecom’s (CHT) decision to terminate satellite services for “pro--democracy” channel New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV).
“If Taiwan does not support the struggle for freedom of thought within China, I see no need for America to support Taiwan,” Rohrabacher said in a letter sent on Wednesday to President Ma Ying-jeou.
，(美國之音中文網)“作為眾議院台灣連線(Taiwan Caucus)的創始人，我一向認為民主自由是連接我們兩國的紐帶”，“如果台灣不支援在中國爭取思想自由的鬥爭，那麼美國就沒有必要支援台灣。”
Rohrabacher, a California Republican, has been one of the most ardent pro-Taiwan representatives in Washington.
Over the past few months he has been urging US President Barack Obama to sell advanced F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan.
Two years ago, he resigned from the Taiwan Caucus after saying that Ma was working with autocratic China rather than fighting it.
Rohrabacher said in his letter to Ma: “As a founder of the Taiwan Caucus in the US House of Representatives, I have always felt that democracy and freedom are bonds that tie our two nations together.”
“I would be interested to know if CHT’s decision does reflect higher state policy. The democratic government of Taiwan should be encouraging the spread of ideas favoring freedom and traditional values across the Strait,” he said.
(美國之音中文網:) 羅爾巴克爾議員質疑：“我很想知道中華電信的決定是否反映了更高層的政策，台灣的民主政府應該鼓勵在海峽兩岸傳播自由理念和傳統價值觀。”
He is seeking a full explanation of why CHT has refused to renew its agreement with NTDTV.
New Tang Dynasty relies on CHT for broadcast services in both Taiwan and China. NTDTV was founded by members of Falun Gong. Beijing has tried to stop the pro-democracy broadcasts in the past and maintains a stringent regime of censorship.
In a statement issued by his office, the congressman said that Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications is the largest shareholder of CHT and its board includes several government officials.
The statement added that Rohrabacher, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, held a hearing on April 6 exploring the important role broadcasting plays in the promotion of democratic sentiments in tyrannical regimes, including China.
“This action by Chunghwa Telecom is another step in the long road of free nations disarming themselves in the fight against Chinese communist repression,” Rohrabacher’s letter said.
“NTD broadcasts to China help break the Chinese blockade on free information and have a multiplying effect that add to what Voice of America and the Board of Broadcast Governors do to bring truth to the people of China,” he said. “The Chinese regime spends billions every year on worldwide propaganda efforts while free broadcasting to China is being dramatically reduced.”
NTDTV has said in a statement it has been leasing CHT’s ST-1 satellite to air programs from overseas.
The contract expires on Aug. 9 and NTDTV is -obligated to apply to renew the lease three months prior to the contract’s expiration.
CHT refused to renew the contract on the grounds that it had started using a new satellite, ST-2, saying it currently does not have enough bandwidth to provide quality service because the new satellite has fewer transponders.
NTDTV has said the decision was made to please Beijing because CHT is expanding its market in China.
CHT on Wednesday again said that, the telecoms company decided not to renew the contract with NTDTV as a result of the decreased bandwidth. It denied the decision was politically motivated.
---------
原英文報導: Original article found here.
中文報導: 美議員:如臺不支援自由 美無必要支援臺
相關新聞(英): INSIGHT: NTDTV contract renewal explanation falls short
No comments:
Post a Comment