Taiwanese Legislator Slams Budget Cuts to Public TV, Warns Against Reliance on Chinese State Media

Legislator Wu Si-yao strongly condemned the opposition's decision to slash the budget for Taiwan's Public Television Service (PTS), framing it as a direct assault on the nation's media autonomy and cultural identity.

“

Are you going to make Taiwanese people watch China Central Television?

Speaking at a forum in Taipei, Wu argued that the budget cuts, primarily targeting PTS, are designed to undermine Taiwan's independent media landscape. "Are you going to make Taiwanese people watch China Central Television?" she questioned, highlighting the potential consequence of leaving the public without a distinctively Taiwanese television platform.

Wu invoked remarks by Minister of Culture Lee Yung, who stated, "To destroy a country, first destroy its history. To destroy a people, first destroy its culture." Wu echoed this sentiment, asserting that the opposition's actions aim to silence Taiwan's cultural voice internationally, leaving only China's narrative to be heard.

“

To destroy a country, first destroy its history. To destroy a people, first destroy its culture.

She specifically criticized the KMT and TPP parties for targeting PTS, which she described as Taiwan's sole national television station. Wu also referenced comments by legislator Hung Tzu-yung, who reportedly suggested that having 59 legislators like herself was insignificant and that 113 would be needed. Wu firmly retorted, "We are not Hung Tzu-yung, and we can never be Hung Tzu-yung. Wu Si-yao, Wang Shih-chien, Shen Po-yang – we can never be Hung Tzu-yung. Because we are Taiwanese, we are not Chinese."

“

We are not Hung Tzu-yung, and we can never be Hung Tzu-yung. Wu Si-yao, Wang Shih-chien, Shen Po-yang – we can never be Hung Tzu-yung. Because we are Taiwanese, we are not Chinese.