Academics yesterday said Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
A General History of Taiwan was written in the 1920s by Lien's grandfather Lien Heng (連橫) as the first history book on Taiwan.
"The book was autographed by Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) when his government came to Taiwan in 1949, so we infer that the book takes no position on Taiwan's identity," said Chen I-shen (陳儀深), deputy chairman of the Northern Taiwan Society and a research fellow at the Academia Sinica.
He said the book describes Taiwan as being ruled and built by the Qing Dynasty. But historical evidence shows Taiwan did not belong to China before 1684, the year it was occupied by Qing officials.
Chen said he did not know Lien's intentions in choosing to present the book as a gift to Chinese leaders.
"He might feel honor or feel proud of his grandfather for writing such a history book," he said. "But on the other hand, Lien has taken a pro-China position and supports the `one China' principle, so he might be taking the book with him to underscore Taiwan's historical relationship with China."
Chen said the book had not been written to oppose the Japanese colonial regime, and Lien Heng had managed to get two Japanese governors-general of Taiwan to autograph it.
And now, in addition to Chiang and Japanese colonial officials, Chinese leaders would also join in honoring the book, he said. The book, astonishingly, has been able to attract three hostile parties, but has no Taiwanese national identity in mind, he said.
He said, however, that the book contains many factual mistakes, adding that books such as Qing History and Ming History written by officials of the two dynasties, offered more accurate histories of Taiwan.
Yang Tsung-lin (
He said the book had originally been partly addressed to young Taiwanese, to help them learn and remember Chinese civilization despite being under Japan's colonial rule.
However, Wu Mi-cha (
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
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