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Ma unveils cultural policies, wants more 'soft power'

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou pulls out a twin-turnip yesterday after unveiling his cultural white paper at a recreational farm in Taipei's Wenshan District. PHOTO: CNA

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) unveiled his cultural policies yesterday, pledging to establish a Ministry of Culture and Tourism and to increase the budget for the cultural sector from 1.3 percent of the general budget to 4 percent if elected president.

Underscoring the need to enhance the nation's "soft power" through culture, Ma said that he would establish a consultation team on cultural affairs under the Cabinet and hold a presidential culture forum annually to ensure that the government is fully implementing its policies.

"Culture is a major source of soft power and we should use it as a key strategy for the country's development and competitiveness on the international stage, Ma said yesterday at a tea house in Maokong (貓空), Taipei City.

Ma proposed to merge the culture and tourism industries and has budged a NT$30 billion (US$900 million) fund for the development of local cultural and tourism industries.

He also promised to open airspace for light aircraft as well as to relax the regulations on coastal investments.

Acknowledging China's growing influence worldwide, Ma said Taiwan should push for cross-strait cultural exchanges to "export" Taiwanese culture and values to China by supporting cross-strait exchange student programs.

He said the nation should also join efforts with China to edit a "21st Century Chinese Dictionary" with both simplified and traditional Chinese versions to promote the language and the two cultures.

Ma further pledged to establish a Taiwan Film Center to cultivate more talent in the film industry and promote traditional arts, such as Peking Opera and puppet shows, internationally.

Ma also promised he would set up a "cultural diplomacy" fund -- with an initial budget of NT$5 billion -- to encourage more international students to study in Taiwan and attract more foreign artists and researchers to have cultural exchanges in Taiwan.
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