Taipei, March 25 (CNA) Neither national security nor press freedom is a supreme principle that should be defended at all costs, President Chen Shui-bian told a group of military leaders Monday.
In his first public speech on the dispute over whether his administration should level treason charges against media that published what it describes as secrets concerning national security, the president called press freedom the lifeline of democracy that should not be compromised on the pretext of maintaining national security.
Noting that human rights are the core value his administration is fighting to protect, the president said press freedom is a vital instrument to ensure the protection of human rights.
Walking a fine line between the two seemingly conflicting interests, the president said security is the basis on which the country and its people survive, while press freedom is the foundation of democracy. Instead of contradicting each other, the two are complementary to each other and should be preserved simultaneously and evenly, he said.
The dispute arose from the disclosure last Wednesday by local media of secret funds maintained by the National Security Bureau for former President Lee Teng-hui.