The nationality of several Taiwanese authors has been listed as Chinese in the Chinese Name Authority Joint Database Search System, a collaborative project between libraries from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to standardize the names of people, groups, meetings and other bodies.
Different Chinese-language authors often share a name and the use of pen names is common, so the National Library of China, the Administrative Center of China’s Academic Library & Information System and other agencies in 2003 established the Cooperative Committee for Chinese Name Authority to settle the confusion and create a standard format for cataloging.
In the following year, the National Central Library (NCL) joined the committee under the name “Taiwan Center for Chinese Studies.”
The committee in 2009 created the database search system, which is open to the public in Taiwan, China and elsewhere.
However, the nationality of several Taiwanese authors is listed as Chinese on the database, including that of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), newly appointed Control Yuan member Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟), Judicial Yuan President Hsu Tzong-li (許宗力) and National Chengchi University Graduate Institute of Taiwanese Literature professor Chen Fang-ming (陳芳明).
The NCL from the onset knew that there were many differences between the two sides, but still hoped to find common ground while maintaining their differences, NCL Bibliographic Information Center director Hsu Ching-fen (許靜芬) said earlier this week.
The cooperation guidelines do not stipulate whether to include a nationality column, Hsu said, adding that China has always included one, but Taiwan’s materials do not.
Hsu said the nationality changes were “uncomfortable to see, but there is nothing that can be done.”
The NCL every year sends members to attend the committee and shares the cost of maintaining the system.
The committee is expected to convene in the second half of this year at the National Library of China in Beijing.
“China is taking advantage of Taiwan,” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Huang Kuo-shu (黃國書) said, adding that the NCL had joined the project to establish a cataloging standard, but has instead created an even larger error: an incorrect understanding in the international community.
“Under these circumstances, what value is left in Taiwan collaborating with China?” Huang asked.
Taiwan’s status was dwarfed, yet the NCL still cooperated and did not protest or request that the nationalities be changed, DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said.
China says that the system is to also join the Virtual International Authority File, an international database to which several national libraries around the world — including the NCL, the US Library of Congress, the German National Library and the National Library of France — have contributed.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it