AP responds to Taiwan government's protest
ROC Central News Agency
2010/10/23 14:11:48
Taipei, Oct. 23 (CNA) The Associated Press responded Saturday to protests by the government of Taiwan over alleged distortions of President Ma Ying-jeou's comments in an exclusive interview, saying that the controversy involved "mainly matters of emphasis".
Based on an interview with the president, the AP reported on Tuesday, among other things, that Ma "suggested that those political talks (with China) could start as early as a second four-year term if he wins re-election in 2012". The president and other officials said this was not what Ma had said.
"We understand that this is a very sensitive and important issue for the government and people of Taiwan. We believe that a fair reading of the interview transcript and the article shows that the AP conveyed the essential facts about Ma's views. However, we understand the issues that have led to the complaint, " said John Daniszewski, the AP's Senior Managing Editor.
"President Ma's position is that any opening for talks on political issues with China should move in step with the public and parliament in Taiwan, that he has no timetable, and that resolving all outstanding economic issues are his priority, "Daniszewski was quoted as saying in an AP dispatch from Taipei.
In response, Johnny Chi-Chen Chiang, minister of Taiwan's Government Information Office, said that "by having the president's remarks clarified, people get to know where the issues lie and can better understand Taiwan's position on cross-strait policies".
The AP article came after Chiang sent a letter to Daniszewski on Wednesday demanding that the agency clarify the matter by issuing a correction of its report.
Instead of an apology, the article said that "the government of Taiwan has objected to an AP dispatch based on an interview Tuesday with President Ma Ying-jeou, saying that certain paraphrases used in the article distorted the president's message and contained errors of emphasis and fact".
"The disputed passages concerned the degree to which the president is open to a political dialogue with Beijing, the likelihood of such talks in the near future, and specifically whether he suggested a dialogue on political issues could take place as soon as his second term of office, if he is re-elected in 2012," it said.
"The objections cited by Chiang and other government officials were mainly matters of emphasis," Daniszewski was quoted as saying.
The article compared the main points contained in the earlier report with what Taiwan officials said should have been the important message.
The earlier article prompted Ma to hold a hastily arranged press conference on Tuesday night, at which he said that economic issues should take precedence over political issues in terms of Taiwan's relationship with mainland China and that there was no timetable for political talks.
During the interview, he did not make any connection between a possible second term and discussions with the Chinese on political issues, said the president.
Despite his clarification and similar statements by other officials, some commentators insisted that the AP report showed Ma's intention to start political negotiations with Beijing if he wins re-election.
The issue is controversial because there are concerns among certain segments of Taiwanese society that after the two sides signed a landmark free-trade agreement in June, Ma's administration will face pressure from Beijing to begin a political dialogue, which they believe would ultimately include discussions about Beijing's goal of eventually unifying with Taiwan. ENDITEM/cs
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