The Ministry of the Interior is proposing the abolition of regulations guiding portrayals of former president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), Minister of the Interior Yeh Jiunn-rong (葉俊榮) said yesterday at the Legislative Yuan.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Kolas Yotaka asked Yeh about the Notice Regarding the Construction of Statues for the Honorable Former President Chiang (塑建總統 蔣公銅像注意事項) which was promulgated by the ministry in 1975, shortly after Chiang’s death.
The notice requires statues to portray Chiang as being “amiable,” “dignified” and bearing “revolutionary spirit which includes compassion, wisdom, bravery, perseverance and optimism.”
Photo: Chen Yu-fu, Taipei Times
The notice requires the addition of Chiang’s final words to the base of statues and includes instructions for environment and height, mandating pedestals stand at least 2m tall.
“Anyone viewing the statue is supposed to have to look up to Chiang,” Kolas said.
“These kind of regulations reflect the reality of the development process Taiwan has gone through,” Yeh said, adding that he had not been aware of the regulations’ continued existence.
“I want to abolish it quickly,” he said, assuming it remains valid.
The future of public statues of Chiang has been a point of contention as the DPP government pushes for transitional justice legislation, with numerous acts of protest vandalism committed against Chiang statues every year.
Many statues have been removed, with more than 200 currently interned at Chiang’s Cihu Mausoleum in Taoyuan, where they were moved after former sites disposed of them.
Meanwhile, when asked if he would continue to represent the central government in attending annual sacrifices to Koxinga (鄭成功) next month, Yeh said his schedule has yet to be determined.
Kolas, an Amis, called for Yeh to refrain from participation to show cultural sensitivity, because Koxinga’s conquest of the island marked the beginning of Han Chinese rule and the subsequent displacement of Aboriginals.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS