Does the U.S. Want CNN to Interfere With Taiwan?

The destruction that Typhoon Morakot brought to Taiwan received a great deal of attention from the world media, some of which included criticism of certain authorities. One piece of criticism that received the most attention was an online survey conducted by CNN, an American cable television news network. The survey indicated that 82 percent of those surveyed agreed that President Ma Ying-jeou should hold himself accountable and resign by the afternoon of the September 17. I, however, am very skeptical of what took place.

First of all, this internet survey has a lot of reliability issues that need to be called into question. After all, the number of people who access any certain media web page on a regular basis must have some type of bias. This group of people will certainly not reflect a broad range of opinions. Among the people living in Taiwan who were busy with rescue efforts, how many working on the front lines of the operation might actually have been found browsing the CNN web page? Whose opinion is it that this survey reflects?

Secondly, one can’t help but be suspicious of CNN’s motive for conducting the survey. The media is capable of creating public opinion. Moreover, given CNN’s renown, its online survey is capable of establishing key points that will influence other media sources and indirectly influence Taiwanese politics.

　　

Finally, one must be very cautious of the slant that is so evident in this survey. The survey’s heading inquires, “Shouldn’t the leader of Taiwan step down over the sluggish disaster relief?” The heading in and of itself is slanted and persuasive enough, but they do not stop there. In the report they slighted Ma Ying-jeou by referring to him casually as “this man.”

　　

CNN boasts of being a professional private news media source that has worldwide influence, but they are in no way objective or impartial. Also, without exception, CNN will protect the United States’ national interest by reflecting and propagating U.S. values. Since the end of the Cold War, the importance of the role of media propaganda as a soft power tool in international political struggles has grown steadily. CNN, as a producer of private television media, plays an important role of its own in the soft power of the United States.

　　

But this time, CNN has extended itself too far and its cards were exposed. Even the general media and public opinion in Taiwan had trouble accepting this survey. Taiwanese people think that “CNN’s survey [is] over the top.” Taiwan’s TVBS telephone survey results indicated that even though Ma Ying-jeou’s approval rating is currently only 20 percent, 59 percent of people still do not think he should step down. Taiwan’s TVBS telephone survey, without a doubt, has slapped CNN in the face for its lack of professionalism.

　　

Yet, CNN’s spearing of Ma Ying-jeou does not necessarily do service to the U.S.’s national interests. The U.S. government was happy to see improvement in the relationship between China and Taiwan, and is not very willing to directly interfere with the talks between both sides of the strait. Therefore, there might be several reasons for CNN’s expression of such a clear political slant in this report. First, certain Taiwanese political groups in the United States may have managed to influence CNN headquarters and, as a result, be able to work their slant into the report. Second, several news gatherers may have been influenced by Taiwanese political groups and unintentionally inserted their political slant in the report. Finally, it may also be possible that the survey reflects the concern of some conservative political forces. There are many different types of political groups made up of people of Chinese descent in the U.S., and among them are some that are doing their utmost to influence U.S. policy towards China. Yet the standpoint of these very small politically involved groups does not reflect nor represent the United States’ national interests. Rather, most of them are concerned only with their own personal interests and those of their organizations.

As a tool of carrying out soft power, CNN has long-standing, worldwide influence in its ability to establish key points for discussion. The key point made by CNN’s survey on Ma Ying-jeou was an unadulterated fabrication. Consequently, our media and our people should be vigilant and should not get caught up by such a thing.