A renowned Chinese journalist is calling for Taiwanese authorities to thoroughly investigate the disruption of New Tang Dynasty TV’s (NTD APTV) signals in Taiwan, in particular, for any possible local collaboration to undermine its broadcasts.
NTDTV, an independent Chinese-language TV network, provides uncensored news about China and on important issues such as human rights that the current Chinese regime finds threatening. The station has faced a variety of forms of interference from the regime, especially concerning its satellite broadcasts into China.
NTDTV's Asia Pacific signal is broadcast through the Chunghwa Telecom’s International Program Transmission Service, which is partially owned by the Taiwanese government.
There is a chance now that the interference has extended into Taiwan where democracy and freedom of speech are core political values.
Mr. Wu Baozhang, former director of Radio France International’s Chinese program, told NTDTV how he suspects local people in Taiwan might be collaborating with the Chinese communist regime.
Wu said that although technically speaking, Beijing is fully capable of interrupting NTDTV’s signals, he was shocked to find it happening in Taiwan.
“I’m shocked to find that this could happen in Taipei in a democratic system. Based on my knowledge, the successful disruption of NTDTV’s signals is unlikely to have been pulled off so smoothly without the help of some local [technical] people in Taiwan.”
NTD APTV’s signal interruptions started on Sep. 17, and peaked on Oct. 1, during China’s National Day celebrations. The interruption especially targeted evening news programs and news commentary programs. Wu pointed out that this is a typical maneuver adopted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“In the past during politically sensitive periods, the CCP usually interferes with foreign broadcasting. My programs were interfered with by the CCP when I was working for Radio France International. Other major Western media like Voice of America (VOA) and the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) have also been constantly interfered with. The CCP traditionally resorts to this kind of action to disrupt the free flow of truthful information.”
He added, “I think there should be a thorough investigation. Not only does this affect people’s rights to be informed, including those of Taiwanese people and Chinese people in the mainland, but it also affects the freedom of press in the entire Asian Pacific area.”
Wu also said that Taiwan’s lawmakers, National Communications Commission (NCC), and justice system should be fully capable of thoroughly investigating what or who is behind the disruption of NTD APTV’s signals.
