A military parade will not be part of the celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China (ROC), but a series of cultural activities will be held to showcase the nation’s soft power, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said.
“The ROC does not want to show the world its military capability, but rather prefers to highlight its culture in the celebration of its 100th founding anniversary,” Ma said during a meeting with advisers on the centennial celebrations on Friday.
“It hopes to display its soft power through cultural, artistic and academic activities,” Ma said, adding that cultural activities would be held throughout 2011.
Ma said China launched the Cultural Revolution in 1966, dealing a severe blow to Chinese culture in the turbulent 10 years that followed. But four decades later, China is no longer criticizing Confucius’ teachings and instead has established institutes around the world to help propagate Confucianism and the Mandarin language, he said.
Ma said it was gratifying to see that mainstream thinking in China had gradually returned to its Chinese roots.
“For years, Taiwan has been the major stronghold, guardian and upholder of Chinese culture,” Ma said.
He said that since the ROC government moved to Taiwan in 1949, Chinese culture has acquired distinctive Taiwanese characteristics.
“Our roots are in mainland China, but we sowed seeds in this land that have produced the kind of phenomena and spirit that have yet to be seen in China,” Ma said.
Over the past six decades, Taiwan has promoted democracy, freedom and pluralism, and there are many activities and phenomena that reflect the country’s main characteristics, he said.
For example, Buddhism has existed in China for about 2,000 years, but after it came to Taiwan, it evolved into a societal and volunteer movement that also incorporates business management, he said.
Taiwan has also displayed creativity not only in culture, but also in industry, business and other areas, the president said.
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