Abolition of map rule lets publishers decide borders

Maps can define the territory of the Republic of China (ROC) in any way the publishers prefer, and the maps do not have to be reviewed by the government before being published, after the legislature abolished the Map Review Statute (水陸地圖審查條例) yesterday.

The statute, passed in 1947, required that the maps be reviewed by the government before they were published. The statute has long been considered outdated, and last year the Executive Yuan proposed abolishing it.

Now, when maps of the ROC are published, the publishers can draw up the territory according to their own preference and ideologies, pro-independence or pro-unification.

Minister of the Interior Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) told the legislature last week that with the technology available these days, it is easy to obtain geographic images captured by satellites.

Su said it was impossible for the media to submit maps they broadcast to the government for review first when they obtain the images from the international media or from foreign map Web sites.

Su said that the ministry notified the public in September 2002 that it was planning to abolish the statute and no objections had been made during the notification period.

The legislature also passed amendments to the Civilian Defense Law (民防法) and the Teacher Training Law (師資培育法) yesterday.

The Civilian Defense Law now allows civilian defense forces to join with other rescue forces whenever a major disaster occurs.

The amended Teacher Training Law eases regulations on teachers in remote areas who want to teach in other parts of the country. Previously, teachers with certificates to teach in remote areas had to take additional classes in order to be certified to teach in non-remote areas.

Now, as long as they have certificates for remote areas and have taught for more than five years in remote areas, such teachers can obtain a certificate for general areas without having to take additional classes.