Although using human rights as a tool to expand Taiwan's external relations may seem problematic, doing so is worthwhile as it showcases the glaring contrast between Taiwan and China, said Taiwan's ambassadors-at-large yesterday.
"It's seemingly paradoxical when the notion of human rights and diplomacy are juxtaposed. But given Taiwan's severe international standing, it's ... difficult for us to dig further into the human-rights conditions within our limited sphere of influence," said renowned novelist and columnist Lu Ping (
"The ... purpose of introducing human rights and peace into [Taiwan's] diplomacy is to demonstrate the distance between us and [our rival] across the Strait," Lu said during a seminar on human-rights diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.
Other ambassadors-at-large, including Attorney at Law Kenneth Chiu (邱晃泉) and Ruth Kao (高李麗珍), chairwoman of the End Child Prostitution Association in Taiwan, also joined the discussion.
Chiu said although critics of human-rights diplomacy in Taiwan argue that human rights have a "sacredness" that should not be treated as a means of diplomacy, the consensus among political figures in Taiwan was that human-rights diplomacy is an important option.
"Taiwan should elevate itself to meet international standards in this regard," Chiu said, adding that the move to ratify international human-rights conventions, despite the tricky legal disputes involved, is an important one.
Chiu also cited comments made by Heinrich Klebes, chairman of the governing board of the International Institute of Democracy during his talk in Taipei in May who urged the legislature to pass a domestic law covering a range of international human-rights standards.
"Taking into account Taiwan's special circumstances, Klebes said Taiwan should draft and pass a strong human-rights law, which should not only outline the country's long-term goals but serve as an example for countries where human-rights repression is a common occurrence," Chiu said.
As a fulfillment of President Chen Shui-bian's (
The draft bill, which incorporates the spirit of the International Bill of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, covers protections for civil, political, educational, social and economic rights.
In addition to reforming Taiwan's human-rights laws, Lu and Chiu believe that the people of Taiwan need to be educated in the essence of human-rights and peace.
"When international society questions Taiwan on human-rights violations, one can say it's because we are relatively ignorant -- not ruthless. After all, Taiwan has been isolated from international society for a long time," Lu said.
Taiwan's human-rights activists have long been worried about the country's isolation from the UN-led international human-rights system -- a result of Taiwan's withdrawal from the UN in 1971.
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
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