As the diplomatic battle between Taiwan and China over educational programs for students from the overseas Chinese community gradually intensifies, legislators yesterday suggested that Taiwan highlight its cultural heritage to compete with China, where they say many overseas students are turning to.
Taiwan has promoted its Chinese higher education facilities in the overseas Chinese community since the 1960s.
As Taiwan shifted to a strategy of "pragmatic diplomacy" over the past decade, following the loss of most of its international recognition to China, ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asian countries -- many of whom have received higher education in Taiwan -- have become vital resources upon their return home for Taiwan's efforts to develop unofficial ties.
China has also tried to boost its relations with the overseas Chinese community in recent years, including offering education opportunities and promoting its own Chinese-language programs.
"The PRC is very concerned about overseas Chinese affairs now and a lot of their practices were copied from us," said KMT legislator Fan Yang-sheng (-S?2?.
Fan said many textbooks used overseas in teaching Chinese language classes are printed in simplified Chinese characters, hinting that Taiwan may be losing its ground on the language front.
To compete with China in winning the support of overseas Chinese, DPP legislator Chiu Chui-chen (
"Chinese publications and teaching materials prepared by Taiwan are too similar to those of the mainland. Both tout the message `I love China,' but China is seen as synonymous with the communist regime," Chiu said.
Since the mainland is seen by the international community as representing China, Taiwan's propaganda should differentiate itself from that of the mainland, Chiu said.
DPP legislator Parris Chang (
"Taiwanese culture isn't a periphery of Chinese culture. They should be integrated and spread," Chang said.
For example, native Taiwanese literature should become part of the curriculum in overseas Chinese schools, Chang said.
Hung Tung-kuei (洪冬桂), vice minister of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, admitted that the competition from China has posed a threat to Taiwan's development of pragmatic diplomacy.
Hung said that compared with China, the earmarked budget and the effort invested by the Taiwan government for the promotion of overseas Chinese affairs is relatively low.
"This has become a big challenge for Taiwan," Hung said.
In order to outrun China, the commission has set up an education Web site to try to reach out to the overseas Chinese community through the Internet, Hung said.
In addition to Chinese culture, there is a lot of information concerning Taiwanese culture and Taiwan's democratic development posted on the Web site, Hung said.
"The government's tactic is to try to appeal to the overseas Chinese community with the democratic development of Taiwan," Hung said.
Also, Hung said, the Executive Yuan has approved a plan to launch a satellite television network to broadcast Taiwanese news to the overseas Chinese community in next May.
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