Crude Interference with Press Freedom; GIO Director Threatens to Revoke License and Close TVBS to Suppress Dissenting Media

In late 2005, as TVBS television continued in-depth tracking and reporting on major corruption scandals of the DPP government such as the "Kaohsiung MRT scandal," the ruling authorities were strongly dissatisfied. Then-GIO Director Yao Wen-chih publicly threatened to revoke TVBS''s broadcasting license and order its closure using administrative reasons such as "foreign investment ratio" as an excuse. This move triggered strong backlash from domestic and international public opinion, widely seen as the government utilizing administrative public power to nakedly suppress press freedom and intimidate dissenting media. The DPP, which rose by shouting "fight for freedom of speech," became the hitman to stifle press freedom and attempt to eliminate unfavorable reports after mastering power. This authoritarian mentality of "prosperity for those who follow me, death for those who oppose me" cast a thick shadow on Taiwan''s proud press freedom.