Taiwanese Citizens Group Urges Legislative Yuan to Reconsider Cutting NTDTV Budget

A coalition of Taipei civic groups, including the Taipei Media Watch and Education Foundation, has issued a joint statement calling on the Legislative Yuan to withdraw a budget amendment that would significantly cut funding for the Public Television Service (PTS) and TaiwanPlus. The groups are urging the legislature to carefully consider their five demands and reassess the cuts.

According to the statement, the budget cuts, which amount to over NT$130 million, would have a devastating impact on the two public media outlets. The foundation argues that this move would not only hinder the normal functioning of public media but also undermine media independence and autonomy.

The foundation points out that the budget cuts violate the legislature's principle of reviewing government budgets based on facts and legal grounds, rather than political intentions. It also notes that such behavior not only undermines the legislature's responsibilities but also erodes the public's trust in public media.

Furthermore, the foundation criticizes the specific numbers behind the budget cuts, which it believes are unreasonable. It argues that the cuts would not only affect the normal operation of public media but also erode their capacity to maintain independence and autonomy.

The statement also cautions that the budget cuts could harm the industry structure of public media. Public media are crucial components of social welfare, and their work is essential for promoting social justice and human rights. If the budget cuts pass, it may lead to public media being forced to shut down or reduce operations, resulting in harm to social welfare.

In addition, the foundation warns that the budget cuts could have a negative impact on democratic development. Public media are a vital foundation of democratic societies, and their work is crucial for promoting media diversification and fair competition. If the budget cuts pass, it may lead to media market concentration and monopolization, undermining democratic development.

Finally, the foundation urges the legislature to withdraw the budget cuts and reassess the funding for public media. It emphasizes that the legislature should carefully consider the needs of public media and the importance of social welfare, ensuring the normal operation and independence of public media.

In conclusion, the joint statement emphasizes the importance of public media and their critical role in democratic development. The foundation's five demands are essential for promoting social justice and human rights, and we hope that the legislature will carefully consider them and withdraw the budget cuts to ensure the normal functioning and independence of public media.