Taiwan cannot afford to depend on China if it wants to see continued economic development and stand on its own politically and culturally. Historically, whenever Taiwan has been considered to be part of China's political and economic sphere, a terrible price has been paid. Both in terms of thinking and culture, the framing of Taiwan within Chinese culture is incompatible with Taiwan's favorable ecological and environmental conditions -- and has prevented Taiwan from realizing certain powers that it possesses as an ocean nation.
The "go south" (南向政策) policy promulgated in Lee Teng-Hui's (李登輝) era is correct in its orientation. Its failure, according to financial experts, was due mainly to the fact that economic bureaucrats didn't promote it enthu-siastically. But even if the policy was temporarily unable to be developed following its promulgation, the KMT government should have carried out some preparatory education. But not even this basic work was done, so that today, the government lacks the grounding in Southeast Asian historical development that it should have.
Apart from the KMT government and economic bureaucrats, however, academia should also share part of the responsibility -- especially National Taiwan University. For many decades, acade-mics have been unable to provide the people with what should be "basic knowledge" about South-east Asian politics, economics, history and culture. In order to survive the 1970s, Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) had to scrap the existing isolationist policy. Just in terms of economic openness alone, industry and businesses which went "outside" had to feel their way since academia was unable to supply them with any knowledge. It was much the same up until the "go south" policy of the Lee era -- academia could not escape the blame.
Things were different during Japanese colonial rule. In 1922 the Japanese began planning and setting up universities in Taiwan. On 27 March, 1928, they established Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University (TIU,
In the Division of Sciences an agriculture/tropical agricultural course was established, as well as subjects like agricultural economics, practical tropical botany and even tropical chemistry. Of course, within the field of medicine, there was research conducted on tropical diseases and bacteriology. Scholars at NTU's College of Engineering even today recognize the contributions bequeathed by TIU's division of medicine.
Though only a few disciplines are mentioned above, one can already get a feel for how divisions were set up for the arts, law, economics, medicine, agriculture, science and so on. It is also apparent that the overall planning was Taiwan-centered, rather than Japan-centred.
When I went to the University of Tokyo in 1977, Professor Ikeda On (
In the early half of the 1960s, when I was a graduate student at NTU and later when I began teaching, I saw that the College of Liberal Arts and College of Agriculture had an abundance of study materials, proving that Ikeda's words weren't just empty talk.
In 1943, during the Japanese occupation, what is now NTU's College of Literature set up an institute for research of southern cultures. The institute's southern culture research room left behind a plethora of books and catalogues, among them a wide variety of bilingual dictionaries for the indigenous languages of Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific islands. But, when I returned from doing research at the University of Tokyo in 1973, many of the materials at NTU had already been lost, which was a very painful discovery. But I need to point this out: NTU -- especially the College of Liberal Arts -- should be held responsible for the great destruction of books and academic research that has occurred in the last half-century.
After the war, the Southern Culture Research Institute was scrapped, and to this day no research into Southeast Asian history is being conducted, nor does there appear to be any evidence of cultivation of talent in this area. Up until the present day, Taiwan's post-war rulers have treated Taiwan as a marginalized entity, which leaves a sour taste. Of course, everyone can plainly see what kind of attitude the highest echelons of Taiwan's education circles will adopt as they handle Taiwan's current academic problems -- even despite the recent transition of political power.
If it hopes to enjoy continued development, Taiwan cannot keep directing its gaze towards China and Beijing. As mentioned above, historical experience tells us that when Taiwan and China are merged, Taiwan always pays a terrible price. Taiwan should think of itself as an independent entity that cultivates relations with neighbors on all four sides.
To this end, research of Southeast Asian history should be encouraged as follows:
First, extra assistance should be provided urgently to existing organizations engaged in the research of Southeast Asian history and subsidies should be provided to those universities that lack such organizations so that they can establish the appropriate departments and engage in research.
Second, a Southeast Asian languages research center should be established. Southeast Asian scholars and experts should be hired to come to Taiwan to teach. A research track should also be developed for Taiwan aboriginal languages and Southeast Asian languages.
Third, teaching and research should be carried out, and scholarly exchanges undertaken, with different countries.
Fourth, Southeast Asian scholars from outside the region should be invited to lecture in Taiwan.
Fifth, scholarships and subsidies should be provided to encourage graduate and undergraduates to study in Southeast Asia.
Six, scholarships should be provided to students from Southeast Asia and South Pacific islands to research Taiwan's history.
Seven, books for the general public should be translated or written about the politics, economies, histories and cultures of each Southeast Asian country.
Eight, lectures on Southeast Asia should be given for the general public.
In sum, if Taiwan is able to act upon the above proposals, it will be able to cultivate, in a short period, an environment favorable to Southeast Asian research, and establish a research foundation that fuels the nation's long-term development.
Cheng Ching-jen is a professor emeritus at National Taiwan University and a national policy advisor to the president.
Translated by Scudder Smith
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