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"Pay close attention to that man behind the curtain!"

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Kathrin Hille continues the dissembling about Taiwan's UN bid

Hille of BS grows ever higher

In today's Financial Times, Kathrin Hille once again tells things like they aren't. While two of that article's three paragraphs are accurate, one unattributed phrase turns the whole thing into an opposition talking point:
The government of President Chen Shui-bian has this year been pursuing a campaign to join the UN under the name Taiwan in what is widely viewed as a political stunt aimed at building support ahead of presidential elections next March.
"[V]iewed" by whom? She doesn't say, but her use of the word "widely" implies that such "viewers" are all over the place. If you had hoped she'd name at least one of those "viewers," you would have been sorely disappointed.

One week and one day ago, Hille falsely painted DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) as "rival[s]" Once again, she's telling big, fat lies, and I wouldn't say so unless I could offer you proof.

Truth, be told
Here's the real story on how people view using the name Taiwan to join the UN:
* Poll shows support for UN bid
Nearly 88 percent of participants in a poll said Taiwan, as an independent and sovereign entity, does not need China's approval to join any international organization, while 71.3 percent supported the government's bid to join the UN under the name "Taiwan."

The poll, released yesterday, was commissioned by the Institute for National Policy Research and conducted by ERA Survey Research Center from June 15 to June 16. A total of 1,070 people were surveyed.

On the question of nation's planned UN bid, 14.1 percent did not support the campaign and 14.6 percent did not answer.

More than 77 percent of respondents did not consider Taiwan to be part of China and more than 80 percent of respondents disapproved of China's recent move at the World Organization of Animal Health to downgrade Taiwan to a non-sovereign member of the organization.

Comparing the poll with a survey recently conducted by Taiwan ThinkTank, Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) emphasized that most respondents in the two surveys supported the UN bid and that, regardless of their political affiliations, were upset by China's move against Taiwan and did not think Beijing's behavior was conducive to cross-strait development.
* Taiwanese groups in Europe support 'Taiwan' UN bid
The European Federation of Taiwanese Associations on Sunday expressed its support for Taiwan's bid to join the UN under the name "Taiwan"

In a statement at the conclusion of a three-day meeting of the federation held in Fiuggi, near Rome, the Taiwanese expatriates said that they supported the Democratic Progressive Party administration's efforts to seek UN entry.
Who is it that doesn't support this bid? Would they be Kathrin Hille's usual sources, and does she spend so much time with them that she's become a True Believer in whatever they preach, no matter how easily refuted?

Please contact the Financial Times, and let them know how you feel about their mendacious reporting.
Things dissembled and dissembling: , , , , ,

Cross-posted at Taiwan Matters!

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