A member of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) Central Standing Committee recently caused a stir with his suggestion that the nation’s Aborigines should marry within their own ethnic group to preserve the purity of Aboriginal bloodlines.
The suggestion came to light when a KMT lawmaker revealed in a post on Facebook that during a committee meeting on Wednesday last week, in which Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Sun Ta-chuan (孫大川) gave a presentation, committee member Liao Wan-lung (廖萬隆) proposed the idea to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
According to the post, Ma, who presided over the meeting in his capacity as the KMT chairman, responded by saying that “love and marriage are personal liberties,” adding: “I’m sorry, but I cannot take the suggestion.”
Liao’s proposal has nonetheless caused a stir among some netizens, who slammed the idea as “totally ridiculous.”
Commenting on the issue, Sediq KMT Legislator Kung Wen-chi (孔文吉) said he was surprised anyone would still make such a suggestion, as marriage between Aborigines and non-Aborigines helped keep the different ethnicities at peace, adding that trying to stop inter-communal marriages hinted at repression, not progress.
KMT Legislator Chien Tung-ming (簡東明), a member of the Paiwan tribe, added that it was “inhuman” to interfere in the freedom of marriage.
Protection of cultures did not necessarily need to start by avoiding marriage between Aboriginal and Han peoples, said Chien, whose view was echoed by Sun.
Other Aboriginal leaders also said it was ludicrous, laughable, an infringement of human rights and inhumane.
Independent Legislator May Chin (高金素梅), who is half-Atayal and represents an Aboriginal constituency, wondered why Liao still subscribed to the outdated concept of blood and racial purity.
Liao yesterday clarified that his intent had been to preserve Aboriginal languages and cultures. Such things cannot be forced and must be encouraged by policies, he added.
The central government’s policies on the preservation of Aboriginal culture are insufficient, causing their gradual assimilation and the loss of Aboriginal languages, Liao said.
“There might not be a pure-bred Aborigines anymore if this continues,” Liao said.
Government policies must protect the vulnerable and the central government should draw up regulations that encourage young Aborigines to return to their native homes to carry on their own cultures, which are an important part of Taiwan’s culture, he added.
According to the Aboriginal Identity Act (原住民身分法) amended in January 2001, people who are half Aborigine can obtain Aborigine status.
As a result, whereas the Aboriginal population was 420,000 in 2002, as of last month a total of 514,000 individuals nationwide were classified as Aborigines.
NETWORK-MAPPING PROJECT: The database contains 170 detailed files of Taiwanese politicians and about 23 million records of household registration data in Taiwan China has developed a network-mapping project targeting political figures and parties in Taiwan to monitor public opinion during elections and to craft tailored influence campaigns aimed at dividing Taiwanese society, according to documents leaked by Chinese technology firm GoLaxy (中科天璣). The documents, collected by Taipei-based Doublethink Lab, showed a database was specifically created to gather detailed information on Taiwanese political figures, including their political affiliations, job histories, birthplaces, residences, education, religion and a brief biography about them. Several notable Taiwanese politicians are in the database, including President William Lai (賴清德), former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍),
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
UPGRADED MISSILE: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is reportedly to conduct a live-fire test of the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile on Thursday next week The US Army is planning to build new facilities to boost explosives production and strengthen its supply chain, a move aimed at addressing munitions shortages and supporting obligations to partners including Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel, Defense News reported. The army has issued a sources sought notice for a proposed Center of Excellence at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, the report said. The facility would serve as a hub within the US industrial base for the production of key military explosives, including research department explosives (RDX) and high melting explosives (HMX), while also supporting research and development of next-generation materials. The proposed
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
RSS