The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders placed Taiwan at 59, down from 36 last year. Reasons for the fall were government attempts at interfering with the media and attacks by protesters against reporters, the organization said.

Government Information Office Chairman Su Jun-pin said he could not accept the criticism because the government had absolutely not interfered with press freedom over the past year. The government's determination to protect the freedom of the press had not changed, and it would continue to do its utmost to give reporters an even freer news environment, Su said. He insisted that each television station and each news organization could freely point out the shortcomings of the government without fear of interference. The Cabinet spokesman said the GIO would strengthen its contacts with RSF because of the apparently different interpretations of individual incidents or issues.

Ruling Kuomintang lawmakers said that contrary to the report, Taiwanese media were too free. Press reports could insult the president and accuse government leaders of colluding with China without the government taking any action against them, said legislator Lu Hsueh-chang.

The administration of President Ma Ying-jeou has been accused several times of influencing key appointments in the media, particularly by posting former aides at the state-run Radio Taiwan International and at the semi-official Central News Agency.