China tourism official says he's all ears

CNA , TAIPEI

China's top tourism official said yesterday that he can "listen to all sorts of voices" during his stay in Taiwan and that he is interested in learning the views of the local people.

Visiting Chinese National Tourism Administration Director Shao Qiwei made the remarks while touring scenic spots in Tainan.

Shao's words came a day after legislators from the opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) called for his immediate expulsion from the country for "seriously damaging Taiwan's national dignity" by asking reception authorities to remove the Republic of China national flag and photos of President Chen Shui-bian prior to his visits to local establishments.

Shao's delegation has also been dogged by a group of local protesters during its trip around the nation. The protesters burned and trampled a Chinese flag to show their resentment toward China.

Shao visited two historical sites in Tainan, including Anping Castle.

Who has the guts to stay seated?

In view of the recent brouhaha over whether cable station TVBS should be shut down -- a majority of its shares are Chinese-owned, which violates the Satellite Broadcasting Law -- President Chen Shui-bian on Tuesday pledged that no television outlet would be closed down during his presidency.

Chen's statement is tantamount to pardoning a monster. It is as if he is saying, "Come and get me, for no matter what you do, even if you attack me, I will not get you."

TVBS general manager Lee Tao, who is also the host of the talkshow 2100, Quanmin Kai Jiang [Speaking Your Mind at 2100], stated in his show and swore on his life that TVBS "is 100 percent-funded by Hong Kong capital and not Chinese capital."

Whether capital is from Hong Kong or China, it is not Taiwanese and is therefore foreign capital. The law stipulates that direct foreign investment in a TV station should not exceed 50 percent. Lee, therefore, was swearing on his life that TVBS is 100 percent funded by foreigners.

It's a clear violation of the law, so why has the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration taken so long to act?

Most likely one can attribute this to the administration's own wishful thinking that pro-China media outlets will be nicer to it in return for not intervening.

Apparently, the administration has not learned its lesson, despite the number of times it has been cut and bruised by the pro-China media with smearing and false accusations.

Sometimes, offense is the best defense. If the government can't be trusted to stand up for Taiwan's interests, then the task rests with the Taiwanese people.

The Northern Taiwan Society on Monday urged members of the public to donate NT$100 to help gather the necessary cash for the budget in lieu of the long-stalled arms-procurement bill.

The group expects that 1 million people will support the drive.

Coincidentally, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Alex Tsai on Tuesday urged the public to invest NT$100 in TVBS and "make it a company fully funded by Taiwanese capital."

NT$100 is not a very big sum. If both parties are serious about these proposals, it will be interesting to see how each group fares.

It could be viewed as a kind of pocket-change referendum on what the public prefers: maintaining national security or propping up a cable station that has willingly helped China push its agenda in Taiwan.

American civil-rights vanguard Rosa Parks, who passed away aged 92 last Monday, was the first woman to lie in honor in the US Capitol Rotunda -- a tribute formerly reserved for presidents, soldiers and prominent politicians. She was no shrewd legislator, charismatic politician nor an articulate talkshow host. She was but an ordinary woman who simply had the guts to say, "I'm tired of giving up my seat."

The majority of the Taiwanese public could learn from her example and end their mute reaction to pro-China media manipulation.

We need more people like Parks -- people who can dare to stand up and defend the dignity and pride of the Taiwanese and refuse to be bullied.