Currently, government offices and public schools must comply with the "Regulations on the Hanging of the National Flag, and Pictures of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, former president Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo."
The said regulation was passed by the interior ministry in 1988 and made it mandatory for government offices and public schools to hang the pictures of the two Chiangs.
After revision, the regulation now only requires the hanging of national flag, and pictures of Sun Yat-sen and the president.
Senior Advisor to the President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文), remarks that the revision is a positive step in the eradication of ignorant idol-worship.
"Taiwan is a democratic country. I don't even think it's necessary to hang the pictures of Dr. Sun Yat-sen," Yao said.
However, these moves by the government have been attacked by opposition parties as government efforts toward gradual de-Sinicization (去中國化).
Chang Mau-kuei (張茂桂), a noted researcher at the Institute of Sociology of the Academia Sinica, however, says these moves reflect a change of political landscape. "It's impossible to achieve de-Sinicization in Taiwan. The moves are simply removing symbols of Sinicism," Chang says.
Cheng Ching-jen, national policy adviser to the president, emphasizes that "Taiwan has to re-define itself for survival, especially since the international community does not recognize the ROC."
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