REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS TO OPEN ASIA BUREAU IN TAIPEI
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Reporters Without Borders, an international nongovernmental organization (NGO) that promotes press freedom, announced on 6 April the opening of its first Asian bureau in Taipei. The government of Taiwan welcomes the decision and is pleased to see the organisation affirm Taiwan’s human rights guarantees and freedom of speech.
As this announcement coincided with the nation’s first Freedom of Speech Day, it is a significant step for Taiwan, Executive Yuan Spokesperson Hsu Kuo-yung said. He also pointed out, ‘The right to exercise freedom was a turning point for Taiwan’s democracy and has become an important core value for the nation’s democratic development.’ ‘Freedom of speech and the press embody the spirit of Reporters Without Borders; Taiwan’s government welcomes the decision to open its Asian bureau in Taipei.’
Reporters Without Borders is also known by its French name Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). The NGO has consultative status at the United Nations, as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Council of Europe. The Paris-based organization also publishes an annual World Press Freedom Index. Taiwan is the freest in Asia, ranked 51st of 180 countries worldwide according to RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.