After the White House allegedly cut the feed of Taiwan during a worldwide symposium on Democracy, U.S. lawmakers and Democracy activists are furious. the foreign policy disaster ocurred during last week’s Summit for Democracy.
The White House has denied the claims as evidence points to their guilt, according to Reuters and other news outlets.
Concerns arose from a color-coded map that showed Taiwan in a different color to China, as presented by Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang during a panel discussion on Dec. 10, Reuters reported, citing sources close to the matter.
The image differentiating Taiwan and China—that could have been viewed as being at odds with Washington’s “one-China” policy—allegedly flustered White House officials.
After a minute the video of the presentation was cut and only audio was heard. An onscreen disclaimer later declared opinions expressed by individuals do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. government.
The incident drew fire from several U.S. Republican politicians. How could the United States censor a Democratic country discussing censorship, they askek.
“Censoring Taiwan and tiptoeing around the Chinese Communist Party at our own democracy summit is just beyond the pale,” said Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) in a Dec. 13 Twitter post.
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) called it a “reprehensible” decision that requires “an immediate public apology.”
“Tyrants around the world must know the US stands for freedom, self-expression, and democracy,” she said on Twitter.
“This is unacceptable,” Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) posted on the same day. “What will it take for this Administration to stop bending over backward to appease China?”
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) both weighed in on the matter.
“Has the Biden White House completely forgotten that the U.S. and Taiwan are allies?” McClain wrote on Twitter. “Censoring a Taiwanese minister to appease the #CCP is a dangerous step to take.”
Has the Biden White House completely forgotten that the U.S. and Taiwan are allies?
Censoring a Taiwanese minister to appease the #CCP is a dangerous step to take.
— Representative Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) December 13, 2021
“How ironic,” said Lesko via Twitter. “A minister from Taiwan was censored by the Biden Administration so as not to offend China at the ‘Summit of Democracy’.”
Some said the move to cut the video feed was an over-reaction with a source telling Reuters that the White House National Security Council (NSC) angrily contacted the State Department, concerned that the video appeared to show Taiwan as a distinct country.
Despite China’s claims over Taiwan, the island has its own democratically-elected government, military, and constitution.
Tang said during the panel discussion that Taiwan has been rated as “completely open” for three consecutive years.
“We are the only Asian country with that distinction and the solo Asian green light,” Tang said.
A spokesman at the White House NSC has denied the allegation but those running the technical end of the presentation said it was the White House that called to cut the feed.
–Wire services
