The rating systems for books, audio and video publications will go into effect today.
According to the Measure Governing the Rating Systems of Publications and Pre-recorded Video Programs (出版品及錄影節目帶分級辦法) -- promulgated in August this year, books, audio or video programs carrying restricted content should not be made available to audiences under the age of 18.
Books and audio publications are rated into two categories: general and restricted.
Restricted content for books and audio publications is defined as material containing "over-description" of such criminal behaviors as killing, kidnapping or drug dealing; "over-portraying" of the process of suicide; "dramatic depiction" of violent, bloody and deviant scenes but acceptable by general adult audiences and languages, conversations, sounds, pictures or graphics portraying sexual behaviors, obscene plots or bare human sex organs -- but not abhorrent for adult audiences.
Such restricted publications should carry a label on the cover reading "R rated: not available for 18 and under." The size of the label should not take up less than one-50th of the total area of the cover, the measure indicates.
Publishers refusing to label restricted publications can opt to wrap them up in plastic bags or sell them at special sections of the store. The section, however, must carry a sign reading, "no one aged 18 and under is allowed to rent or purchase."
Violators will be subject to a fine of between NT$100,000 and NT$500,000, according to the Children and Juveniles Welfare Law (兒童及少年福利法). Serious offenders can also be asked to suspend publication for a month or up to one year.
Video programs are rated into four categories under the measure. The "G" rating is for general audiences of all ages. A "P" rating, or protection rating means that children aged 6 and under are not permitted to view the material. P-rated materials are permitted for children aged between 7 and 12, and must be accompanied by a parent or adult. The PG rating requires parental or adult guidance for audiences between 12 to 18-years-old. The "R" rating disallows anyone under the age of 18 from viewing the material.
Restricted content for video programs has a similar definition with that for books and audio publications. Video programs with restricted content must also carry a label with a warning message on the front and back of its packaging. Pictures or words on the front and back covers of packaging must not contain any restricted material.
Like explicit publications, restricted video programs must be confined to special sections of a store and carry a sign reading: "no one aged 18 and under is allowed to rent or purchase."
Huang Jien-ho (黃健和), general manager of Dala Publication Co specializing in books with spicy content, criticized the new rating system as "violent" and "ridiculous."
"Pornography is part of mass culture. It's not fair to deprive audiences of the right to read good books," Huang was quoted by a local evening paper as saying.
Before the new rating system takes effect, books deemed to have restricted content are estimated to take up about 5 percent of the market. With the implementation of the new system, Huang told the newspaper he expected to see the number skyrocket to 30 percent.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as
RSS