Taiwan elections: Mainland Chinese reporters on short-term permits can ‘only observe’ as island votes for new president

Reporters from around the world are converging on Taiwan as the island prepares to vote for a new president in less than 10 days. However, those coming in from mainland China face especially strict barriers on reporting on the January 13 presidential and legislative elections.

A Taiwanese immigration official, who declined to be named, said mainland journalists on short-term permits “can only observe” but are not allowed to write anything about the elections, even if they clear the application process to visit the island.