The UN plans to use only simplified Chinese characters on its Web sites and documents starting in 2008. Since many countries see China as a potential superpower, the decision is understandable. But traditional Chinese characters are symbols of the Chinese arts and culture and should be respected by the world, regardless of whether the UN uses them or not.
As China becomes more influential, a larger number of people will learn Chinese. Under this circumstance, simplified Chinese characters will gradually become the standard. China has spent US$200 million over the past two years to promote its "Confucius Institute" around the world, but I bet Confucius would not comprehend simplified characters. Even scholars in China are urging the restoration of traditional Chinese. Although more people use simplified Chinese characters, they are incomparable to the traditional Chinese characters, which truly demonstrate the beauty and essence of Chinese culture.
If I'm not mistaken, there exists an organization called UNESCO.
Its function is to protect cultural diversity through actions involving sites that bear witness to multiple cultural identities, that are representative of minority cultural heritages or are in imminent danger of destruction. Traditional Chinese is a relic of ancient times, the legacy of a broad and profound history.
I sincerely expect the whole world to pay increased attention to the preservation of traditional Chinese, the goal that we are striving toward in Taiwan.
Cecilia Ma
Taipei
Elbridge Colby, America’s Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, is the most influential voice on defense strategy in the Second Trump Administration. For insight into his thinking, one could do no better than read his thoughts on the defense of Taiwan which he gathered in a book he wrote in 2021. The Strategy of Denial, is his contemplation of China’s rising hegemony in Asia and on how to deter China from invading Taiwan. Allowing China to absorb Taiwan, he wrote, would open the entire Indo-Pacific region to Chinese preeminence and result in a power transition that would place America’s prosperity
When Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) first suggested a mass recall of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators, the Taipei Times called the idea “not only absurd, but also deeply undemocratic” (“Lai’s speech and legislative chaos,” Jan. 6, page 8). In a subsequent editorial (“Recall chaos plays into KMT hands,” Jan. 9, page 8), the paper wrote that his suggestion was not a solution, and that if it failed, it would exacerbate the enmity between the parties and lead to a cascade of revenge recalls. The danger came from having the DPP orchestrate a mass recall. As it transpired,
All 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers and suspended Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安), formerly of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), survived recall elections against them on Saturday, in a massive loss to the unprecedented mass recall movement, as well as to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that backed it. The outcome has surprised many, as most analysts expected that at least a few legislators would be ousted. Over the past few months, dedicated and passionate civic groups gathered more than 1 million signatures to recall KMT lawmakers, an extraordinary achievement that many believed would be enough to remove at
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