Imbedded marketing was raised by local media as a problem. Politicians also criticised the practice. However, Mainland Affairs Council Minister, Lai Shin-Yuan, said there was no law in Taiwan regulating the content of print media, because the Publication Act was abolished in 1999, leaving self regulation by the media. Taiwanese media are barred from publishing advertisements provided by unauthorized Chinese advertisers.

Also in the first half of 2012, a Chinese Nationalist Party lawmaker accused two journalists of defamation for reporting on alleged pressure put on the National Communications Commission over the Want Want bid.

In April, a Taiwanese correspondent covering vice president elect Wu Den-Yih’s visit to China’s Hainan Island was treated roughly by Chinese security, who stripped away a photojournalist’s press pass and took him away by force, according to the Taipei Timesnewspaper. The journalist was eventually released from custody after a confrontation between other Taiwanese journalists and security authorities.

5.11 The National Press Council of the Republic of China in Taiwan takes the
“Code of Ethics of Chinese Journalists,” the “Code of Ethics for the Republic of China
Press,” the “Code of Ethics for the Republic of China Radio Broadcasting,” and the
“Code of Ethics for the Republic of China Television” as the basis for its deliberations
and resolutions on cases submitted to it.  English translations of these codes are
provided by the Council which are at Appendixes II, III and IV .

5.12 Provisions concerning the protection of privacy in the “Code of Ethics for the
Republic of China Press,” include:
II (3): News reporters covering victims at a hospital or at an accident site shall
observe the regulations of the hospital or obtain the permission of the
persons involved.  Reporters shall not interrupt treatment or
emergency measures, and photographs shall not be taken against the
wishes of the hospital or the persons involved.
III (3): Unless it effects the public interest, no news shall be reported that
invades person’s privacy.
III (4): Unless first investigated and proved true and connected with the public
interest, no news shall be reported that charges, exposes or condemns a
person or an organization of any wrongdoing.  When such news is
reported it shall be based on the principles of balance and accuracy.
III (6): If a news report has stained a person’s reputation, the newspaper shall
provide space in the same location for the aggrieved party to defend
itself or to present its case.
IV (4): Names, addresses or any other information enough to identify a juvenile
suspect or delinquent shall not be published.
IV (5): Rapes shall not be reported unless they represent a danger to public
safety or involve an aggravated crime.  Names, addresses or any other
information enough to identify the victim shall not be kept from the
public.
V (4): No commentary on a person’s private life shall be made if it has
nothing to do with the public interest.
VII (4): No pictures of a person’s private life shall be published without the
permission of the person involved.

The media industry in Taiwan has flourished since the lifting of newspaper
restrictions in 1988 and the subsequent opening up of television channels,
with the number of newspapers jumping to 360 in 1998 from a mere 31 back in 1987.
In addition, there are more than 100 cable TV systems in operation. Since 1995, the
Government in Taiwan has spared no efforts to promote Taiwan as an Asia-Pacific
Media Center with the aim of turning Taiwan into a regional production and distribution
hub for Chinese language films and TV programmes.

3.2 The development of the mass media in Taiwan has been affected by political,
cultural and economic factors. Generally speaking, the mass media in Taiwan have
moved from a closed system to a pluralistic and market-oriented one. Of course, the
flourishing of the mass media in Taiwan has not been trouble-free. It has also
encountered various problems, such as the media’s social responsibilities and the abuse
of the freedom of the press. In recent years, Taiwan has promulgated a number of laws
and regulations on the mass media. Taiwan also has its own media self-regulatory
mechanism.

Before 1988, newspaper restrictions were imposed in Taiwan. The legal basis for the restrictions was the National Mobilization Law（國家總動員法）and the Publication Law（出版法 ). In 1951, the Executive Council（行政院 ）imposed strict restrictions on the registration of newspapers, magazines and news agencies in accordance with these two laws. As a result, the total number of newspapers in Taiwan had remained at 31 for a long time. During the imposition of newspaper restrictions, the government agencies responsible for the regulation of the mass media included the Government Information Office under the Executive Council, the Taiwan Garrison Command under the Ministry of National Defence and the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Kuomintang. The Kuomintang also directly owned a number of newspapers and TV stations.  The newspaper restrictions in Taiwan were lifted on 1 January 1988.