Pro-Taiwan newspaper takes a lengthy breather

The Auckland pro-Taiwan newspaper Independence Daily has suspended operations for up to two years.

The last issue of the eight-year-old, six-day paper came out last Saturday.

A notice in English and Chinese signed by deputy general manager Janet Hsieh thanked customers for their support but said "the time has come to re-evaluate the future of our publication in order to develop new ideas and broaden the depth of our reporting".

The Chinese version of the notice added that there had been some "distribution difficulties" and said the suspension would last "up to two years".

Members of the Chinese community were disappointed. Manying Ip, a lecturer in Auckland University's School of Asian Studies, said it was the only "proper Chinese paper" in New Zealand, with solid news and feature content.

Winnie Chang, the director of a Wellington communications company, said that unlike most Chinese-language papers, which were "80 per cent advertising", the Independence Daily offered its readers real news.

"The paper was the most important print media in the Taiwanese community."

A member of the paper's advertising department said staff had been told to find new jobs.

The Weekend Herald was unable to contact managers of the paper, which was a strong voice for Taiwanese independence and sold by subscription to readers all over New Zealand.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and has threatened to attack if the democratic island of 23 million formally declares statehood.

This week, China unveiled an anti-secession bill allowing the use of military force to thwart any bid for independence by Taiwan.

Independence Daily staff who answered phones at its Upper Queen St office were unwilling to discuss the closure.

One woman said the temporary shutdown was "to change the whole operating system".

Asked when the paper would reopen, she said: "We don't have an exact date yet."