Taipei: The Grand Hotel Taipei has firmly dismissed recent media reports suggesting that it prohibited CBS from broadcasting coverage of the Beijing summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on its premises.
According to Focus Taiwan, the hotel issued a statement to local media on Saturday evening, categorically denying claims that the hotel owner, dissatisfied with CBS's coverage, had barred the network from broadcasting political content. The hotel described the reports as "inconsistent with how the hotel actually handled the matter."
The hotel clarified that it had received a refund request from a guest who complained about noise disturbances caused by CBS's live news broadcast operations at 6 a.m. on Thursday, the day of the summit in Beijing. The hotel stated that its staff informed the interpreter hired by CBS that permission to shoot inside the hotel would not be granted because the filming had not been applied for in advance and had already disturbed other guests.
On Thursday in the U.S., the New York Post reported that CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil encountered several obstacles while covering the summit. The report highlighted that Dokoupil was initially denied a visa to China, with sources speculating that CBS News' "poor planning" led to difficulties in getting Dokoupil to Beijing. Additional reports from Semafor noted that the cause of the block remained unclear, whether due to a late application or another issue.
The Post further reported that once in Taiwan, Dokoupil was prevented from broadcasting at his hotel due to the owner's disapproval of his coverage. Consequently, Dokoupil broadcasted from Taipei's Liberty Square for his subsequent program. During the segment, he discussed the pervasive sense of threat from China felt in Taiwan and recounted interactions with locals, including a woman who requested her words not be used for fear of repercussions.
In response, the Grand Hotel Taipei emphasized its respect for press freedom and its history of hosting international media. However, it underscored that guest comfort and privacy are prioritized. The hotel stated that future arrangements would aim to balance media needs with its commitment to guest satisfaction.