TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Taiwan Panorama Editor-in-Chief Chen Liang-chun (陳亮君) criticized the government’s decision to end the magazine’s print editions Monday, accusing the foreign ministry of misrepresenting subscription data to create the impression that the publication lacked readers.
Chen, who joined the publication 10 years ago, said the decision to leave came after the ministry abruptly ended the Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese editions and stopped distributing the English-language print edition, per Opinion@CommonWealth. Chen said the ministry had emphasized individual subscriptions while downplaying subscriptions from libraries and other major institutions.
KMT Legislator Huang Ren (黃仁) previously questioned Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) about alternative channels for international outreach after the cancellation of Taiwan Panorama’s Southeast Asian-language editions, per RTI. Chen Ming-chi suggested that Radio Taiwan International could take over some of the magazine’s functions.
Chen Liang-chun rejected the proposal, saying Taiwan Panorama’s focus on arts and in-depth reporting differs from RTI’s broadcasting approach, per UP Media. Chen said the magazine contributes to Taiwan’s soft power and is the only state-run media outlet that generates revenue through physical sales.
National Taiwan University Associate Professor Tsai Hui-ku (蔡蕙如) agreed with Chen, warning that RTI would need to expand its operations to take on Taiwan Panorama’s role or risk affecting its own functions. Former RTI Director Shao Li-chung (邵立中) said the government should establish a shared database for state media organizations so each outlet can focus on its own expertise.
Chen highlighted the effectiveness of print media, citing former Vice President Chen Chien-jen’s (陳建仁) 2019 visit to the Vatican as an example, per UP Media. Chen said the former vice president was able to begin a conversation with the late Pope Francis by showing him a Taiwan Panorama issue featuring coverage of Catholicism in Taiwan.
The foreign ministry announced in March that Taiwan Panorama would end its print editions and transition to a digital format, per Liberty Times. Chen Liang-chun said the magazine had already begun digitizing its operations when Chen joined.
Chen warned that abruptly ending print publication could create accessibility problems in countries where digital reading is less common, per UP Media. Tsai said ending editions in Southeast Asian languages went against the purpose of using state resources to address gaps the private sector cannot fill.
Chen said the decision represented a loss of Taiwan’s soft power. Chen cited the magazine’s international reach, including a case in which Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta published Taiwan Panorama’s reporting on black-faced spoonbill migration, which extends north to Russia’s Sakhalin Island.
Chen also recalled an elderly woman in Keelung who thanked Taiwan Panorama for an in-depth report on the local Yen (顏) family in 1994. Chen said descendants of the family later returned to Taiwan and reconnected with their roots.
Chen said Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) delivered an emotional speech marking Taiwan Panorama’s 50th anniversary at the Taipei International Book Exhibition shortly after the magazine learned its annual budget would be reduced from about NT$20 million (US$618,783) to NT$3 million. Chen said the magazine’s multilingual website and database also face possible closure.
Chen also accused senior officials of repeatedly interfering with editorial decisions, including objecting to the magazine’s use of the Chinese term “宣傳” (propaganda), which Chen said does not carry a negative meaning in all contexts and had never drawn criticism from readers. Chen said colleagues had faced repeated criticism, with some described as “the worst of the worst” or “the bad apples.”
Chen said tensions between Taiwan Panorama and the foreign ministry would hopefully ease after Chen’s departure. While Chen said it appeared likely the government would cancel the publication entirely, Chen expressed hope that outcome could be avoided.
