Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged the U.N. to allow Taiwan journalists to cover the world body’s activities and events, calling the current ban “discriminatory” as the 73rd General Assembly opened Sept. 18 in New York.
Christophe Deloire, secretary-general of the Paris-based press freedom watchdog, said “Accrediting Taiwan journalists is not a political move, and it avoids unacceptable discrimination that contradicts all fundamental rights to free information stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
RSF’s call to give Taiwan reporters access to the U.N. echoes a Ministry of Foreign Affairs appeal for press credentials to be granted to journalists as part of its campaign stressing the nation’s desire to participate in the global body.
In its statement, RSF blamed China for pressuring the U.N. to bar “Taiwanese nationals” on the basis that the global organization does not recognize their passports. “Over the past years, China has been lobbying in every possible way to isolate Taiwan on the international stage, including preventing its journalists from doing their job,” the organization said.
RSF singled out the General Assembly and next year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva as two events reporters from Taiwan should be allowed to cover. The country’s journalists, previously able to attend WHA events, have been denied accreditation since 2017.
Taiwan is a beacon of media independence in the region. It has topped the Asia rankings in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index for the past six years. (CPY-E)
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