Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) yesterday urged the Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA) to establish an investment threshold to prevent local the cultural industry from being controlled by Chinese capital.
During a question-and-answer session with the Council for Cultural Affairs Minister Emile Sheng (盛治仁) at a meeting of the Education and Culture Committee, Chen expressed concern that China could seek to promote unification with Taiwan by attempting to manipulate the cultural industry in Taiwan.
Chen said an investment cap was necessary in the case of Chinese capital because it is impossible for the government to block all Chinese investment.
In response, Sheng said investment was welcome from all over the world as long as it is business-oriented. The council would deal with foreign cultural investment on a case-by-case basis, he said.
Meanwhile, Sheng said the council was scheduled to issue art vouchers to students next year.
The legislature passed the Cultural and Creative Industry Development Act (文化創意產業發展法) in January, authorizing the government to fund a program of art appreciation vouchers for students.
The council plans to issue the vouchers every year, as a way of encouraging students to take an interest in art and cultural events, Sheng said.
Schools in remote areas will be able to use the vouchers to invite art groups to perform.
Although the council previously estimated that the vouchers program would cost the central government a total of NT$1 billion (US$31.1 million), the budget will not be finalized until August, Sheng said.
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