Taipei’s MRT subway signs have recently been internationalized, with Japanese and Korean being added to the existing Chinese and English texts. Meanwhile, signage across China has gradually undergone “de-Anglicization” — the elimination of the English language — turning from bilingual to Chinese only, thus forming a sharp contrast between the two countries. While Taiwan is going international, China appears to be locking itself off from the world.
The decline in Chinese tourists has led the Taiwanese government to promote tourism to other countries. With the increase in foreign tourists, the Taipei MRT has been adding Japanese and Korean to the original Chinese and English signage to make travel more convenient for foreigners. This is a change that Taiwan has made as it tries to move from the Chinese market to the global market, so as not to fall into a tourism crisis due to a lack of Chinese travelers.
Meanwhile, China has changed its highway signs from bilingual to solely Chinese due to its leaders’ preferences. This change has also made its way into schools, where it has started reducing the influence of foreign languages such as English. From banning English as a subject from final exams in elementary schools to limiting elementary-school students’ maximum tutoring hours at English-language institutes, the traces of Beijing’s “de-Anglicization” is visible in almost every aspect of life. This has also led to the closure of online tutoring platforms in China, as they flee to other Chinese-speaking regions to make ends meet.
From these examples, it could be seen that Taiwan is moving toward internationalization and globalization, while broadening its vision to avoid the impact of a single market on its economic development.
The government has also strengthened bilingual education for children to cultivate an international outlook, and an understanding of various foreign cultures through language.
By contrast, China is moving toward “de-Anglicization.” Although the authorities claim that this is to enhance Chinese cities’ image and a sense of national identity among citizens, they are actually giving up the nation’s future competitiveness. In an era of diminishing demographic dividends, would China’s approach result in a more depressed domestic economy and an accelerated outflow of foreign companies from China? The impacts from this could be seen in China’s surging youth unemployment rate and the massive withdrawal of foreign firms. If Beijing persists with its “de-Anglicization” campaign, its economy might go from bad to worse.
Taiwan’s and China’s traffic signs also demonstrate the completely different policy thinking of the two countries. China has used official propaganda to cover up the crisis brought about by its “de-Anglicization” and exaggerated its people’s self-confidence. In doing so, its next generation might eventually lose its international competitiveness.
As for Taiwan, through bilingual education and bilingualization or multilingualization of signage, its next generation would be more accustomed to the use of foreign languages, and would be able to boost its national competitiveness. As a result, Taiwan and China would be on two very different paths, and the former is expected to achieve greater success.
Yang Feng-jung is an interior designer.
Translated by Eddy Chang
Lockheed Martin on Tuesday responded to concerns over delayed shipments of F-16V Block 70 jets, saying it had added extra shifts on its production lines to accelerate progress. The Ministry of National Defense on Monday said that delivery of all 66 F-16V Block 70 jets — originally expected by the end of next year — would be pushed back due to production line relocations and global supply chain disruptions. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said that Taiwan and the US are working to resolve the delays, adding that 50 of the aircraft are in production, with 10 scheduled for flight
Victory in conflict requires mastery of two “balances”: First, the balance of power, and second, the balance of error, or making sure that you do not make the most mistakes, thus helping your enemy’s victory. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has made a decisive and potentially fatal error by making an enemy of the Jewish Nation, centered today in the State of Israel but historically one of the great civilizations extending back at least 3,000 years. Mind you, no Israeli leader has ever publicly declared that “China is our enemy,” but on October 28, 2025, self-described Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) propaganda
On Sunday, 13 new urgent care centers (UCC) officially began operations across the six special municipalities. The purpose of the centers — which are open from 8am to midnight on Sundays and national holidays — is to reduce congestion in hospital emergency rooms, especially during the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year. It remains to be seen how effective these centers would be. For one, it is difficult for people to judge for themselves whether their condition warrants visiting a major hospital or a UCC — long-term public education and health promotions are necessary. Second, many emergency departments acknowledge
Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian (薛劍) on Saturday last week shared a news article on social media about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, adding that “the dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off.” The previous day in the Japanese House of Representatives, Takaichi said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” a reference to a legal legal term introduced in 2015 that allows the prime minister to deploy the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The violent nature of Xue’s comments is notable in that it came from a diplomat,
RSS