From Taipei Times:
Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu (劉德勳) on Friday confirmed that Beijing has partially lifted the block on Taiwanese media Web sites in some regions in China. This is a long overdue but highly welcome move, despite the restrictions that remain in place.
It is no secret that many Web sites containing information Beijing considers “sensitive” are blocked from public access. Virtually all Web sites run by Taiwanese media outlets, as well as those that sell books and magazines, are declared off-limits. Indeed, Taiwan Yahoo’s Internet Web site is blocked within China. It goes without saying that all Taiwanese government Web sites are inaccessible to the Chinese public.
The purpose is obviously to keep the Chinese from learning about news and information on Taiwan that could highlight their differences and incite social discontent and unrest. Frankly speaking, the Chinese government’s fear of the potential impact of granting a free flow of information is not without basis.[Full Text]
