Major Taiwanese news network Liberty Times Network (LTN) recently reported that, well-known U.S. think tank Freedom House recently released its new “Freedom in the World 2026” report, themed “The Growing Shadow of Autocracy.” The report shows that global freedom has declined for the 20th consecutive year, with political rights and civil liberties fell in 54 countries in 2025.
Among the three “Grand China” regions, Hong Kong is classified as “partially free,” mainland China and Tibet maintain their “not free” rating, while Taiwan continues to hold its “free” status.
The overall rating for mainland China remains at 9 points. The “political rights” category received a score of -2.
Hong Kong scored 0 points in all three indicators of “freedom and fairness of elections”. The “media freedom” index scored only 1 point. Since 2005, Hong Kong’s freedom index has fallen by a cumulative 26 points, ranking it among the top in the world in terms of decline, alongside Guinea-Bissau in West Africa.
Taiwan was rated as a “free” region with a score of 93, ranking second in Asia only after Japan (96 points).
Finland is the only country to receive a perfect score of 100. Although the United States is still listed as a “free” country, its score has slipped to 81, the lowest score since the report was first published in 1972.
Source: LTN, March 19, 2026
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