The nomination of National Cheng Kung University Chinese literature professor Chen Yi-yuan (陳益源) as director of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature sparked protests among pro-localization groups over Chen’s lack of background in Taiwanese literature and his perceived pro-China stance, which they said could risk the integrity of Taiwanese literature.
The Ministry of Culture, which tapped Chen for the nomination, said that the decision was made after the consultation with literary professionals, and Chen’s experiences in administrative and academic affairs make him a worthy candidate for the post.
Several pro-localization groups, including Taiwan Society, Taiwanese Pen, Taiwan Association of University Professors and dozens of others, said in a joint statement that Chen’s research interest is mainly in folklore studies, which is not the focus of the museum.
Chen’s pro-China attitude could hamper the sovereignty of the Republic of China and the integrity of Taiwanese literature, the statement said.
His position as a consultant in Minnan studies at the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League — founded in 1947 in Hong Kong by Taiwanese communists and now one of only eight legally recognized political parties in China — arouses suspicions because of the organization’s perceived status as a united front operative for China, the statement said.
Chen’s proposed appointment is part of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) plan to bolster Chinese culture, while downplaying Taiwanese culture, as Ma instructed the university to establish the Minnan Culture Studies Center immediately after he took office to work in line with China’s united front strategy, and a series of activities the center has been hosting to promulgate the Minnan culture is at the heart of Ma’s “one China” policy, the statement said.
The groups said that Ma’s plant is to divide and incorporate Taiwanese literature academics and create a false impression that even Taiwanese literature professors and students believe that both sides of Taiwan Strait can be united in the Minnan culture.
If Chen’s nomination is approved, the museum could become a facility dedicated to China’s Min-nan literature, they said.
The groups called on the ministry to rescind the nomination and pass the appointment to the next president.
As of press time yesterday, the university said Chen was on vacation overseas and could not be reached for comment.
Additional reporting by Yang Yuan-ting
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
ENERGY RESILIENCE: Although Alaska is open for investments, Taiwan is sourcing its gas from the Middle East, and the sea routes carry risks, Ho Cheng-hui said US government officials’ high-profile reception of a Taiwanese representative at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference indicated the emergence of an Indo-Pacific energy resilience alliance, an academic said. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安) attended the conference in Alaska on Thursday last week at the invitation of the US government. Pan visited oil and gas facilities with senior US officials, including US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and US Senator Daniel Sullivan. Pan attending the conference on behalf of President William Lai (賴清德) shows a significant elevation in diplomatic representation,
Credit departments of farmers’ and fishers’ associations blocked a total of more than NT$180 million (US$6.01 million) from being lost to scams last year, National Police Agency (NPA) data showed. The Agricultural Finance Agency (AFA) said last week that staff of farmers’ and fishers’ associations’ credit departments are required to implement fraud prevention measures when they serve clients at the counter. They would ask clients about personal financial management activities whenever they suspect there might be a fraud situation, and would immediately report the incident to local authorities, which would send police officers to the site to help, it said. NPA data showed
RSS