《TAIPEI TIMES》 Taiwan ranks high as a ‘free’ country: Freedom House

/ Staff writer, with CNA

Taiwan retained its status as a “free” country in the latest edition of the Freedom in the World report published on Thursday.

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The nation scored 94 points out of 100 in this year’s report, which was compiled by US-based Freedom House.

Taiwan ranked second in Asia, behind Japan.

Taiwan received 38 points out of 40 for political rights, and 56 points out of 60 for civil liberties, which was identical to last year.

The report indicated that the nation retained its position as a highly free country due to multiple perfect scores.

Exceptions included questions such as: “Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations?” and “Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective?” in which it scored 3 points out of 4.

The report credited Taiwan as having fortified its freedom since the 1990s, after ending martial law in 1987 and holding its first direct presidential election in 1996, followed by “full multiparty legislative elections.”

Although the report praised the country for having a democracy that safeguards the liberties of its citizens, it raised concerns such as the exploitation of migrant workers, and China’s attempts to infiltrate its democracy and media.

The report also highlighted notable events last year, such as the visit of then-US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, the failed referendum to lower the voting age to 18 and the victory of the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） in the November local elections, as examples of how Taiwan’s freedom is strongly correlated to its democracy.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES