It has been an eventful autumn for Taiwan. In addition to concerns over the economy and deteriorating living standards, it is worrying to see that aspects of Taiwanese consciousness are being washed away.
Because of this, the awakening of Taiwanese culture seems to be filling in the gap left by the disappearance of the political manifestation of Taiwanese consciousness.
The films Cape No. 7 (海角七號) and 1895 have been successes not only because they were produced locally, but because the movies are products of Taiwanese culture.
The Chinese government’s abrupt decision not to allow Cape No. 7 to be screened in China reveals the hypocrisy of statements made by Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), because it shows the desire to keep the Chinese public from getting to know Taiwanese culture and history.
And while the movie 1895 is shown in Taiwanese theaters, China Central Television aired a Chinese historical drama called Taiwan 1895. The drama elicited widespread criticism on the Internet for a confusing storyline that misrepresents history. This is because China emphasizes politics, while history plays an insignificant role.
I moved to Taiwan more than two years ago and have spent that time trying to improve my understanding of it not only from a political perspective, but also from a cultural and historical perspective. These two movies enhanced my knowledge of Taiwan in terms of its history and art. In August, I saw a performance by the Taipei Royal Ballet based on the poem The Corsair by the English poet Lord Byron. I did not expect Taiwan would have such a top-notch ballet company. If it were based in Hong Kong, it would have been famous long ago.
The first time I heard of Tsai Jui-yueh (蔡瑞月) was two years ago when then-Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) — in an attempt to redeem himself after allegations he abused his mayoral special affairs fund — donated money he had transferred to his private bank account during his mayoral terms to the Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Foundation and other foundations. Ma’s move was an attempt to reduce the case’s impact on his image and to show his loyalty to Taiwan.
The hardship Tsai experienced during the White Terror has shaped her Taiwanese consciousness. At first I thought her dance troupe’s performances would be pro-localization, but they were not. Because of her experiences living in Japan and Australia and her devotion to the dance industry in Taiwan, she has been called “the mother of Taiwanese modern dance.”
The Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Festival took place in October, covering works by Tsai and other choreographers. Songs without Words (無言歌), Bones of the Warriors (勇士骨) and The Lament of Foreign Brides (外籍新娘悲歌) concern human rights issues such as the 228 Incident and reflect modern Taiwan.
Radeau, Limousine for Janis and Brandenburg Concertos were other pieces by international choreographers performed at the festival. Although Tsai passed away in 2005, her successors and many young dancers strive to promote her tradition while innovating.
As for the Rose Monument, where the Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Institution is located along with a restaurant, this must be what is meant by cultural activities supported by industry.
Sitting on a green lawn outdoors while watching a performance is a unique pleasure. The venue has been reborn after several fires. Likewise, perhaps this eventful and disaster-stricken country can become a new nation that embodies the spirit of tolerance and modernity of Tsai’s dances.
Paul Lin is a political commentator based in Taiwan.
TRANSLATED BY TED YANG
It is almost three years since Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a friendship with “no limits” — weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, they have retreated from such rhetorical enthusiasm. The “no limits” language was quickly dumped, probably at Beijing’s behest. When Putin visited China in May last year, he said that he and his counterpart were “as close as brothers.” Xi more coolly called the Russian president “a good friend and a good neighbor.” China has conspicuously not reciprocated Putin’s description of it as an ally. Yet the partnership
The ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (孫子) said “know yourself and know your enemy and you will win a hundred battles.” Applied in our times, Taiwanese should know themselves and know the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) so that Taiwan will win a hundred battles and hopefully, deter the CCP. Taiwanese receive information daily about the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) threat from the Ministry of National Defense and news sources. One area that needs better understanding is which forces would the People’s Republic of China (PRC) use to impose martial law and what would be the consequences for living under PRC
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said that he expects this year to be a year of “peace.” However, this is ironic given the actions of some KMT legislators and politicians. To push forward several amendments, they went against the principles of legislation such as substantive deliberation, and even tried to remove obstacles with violence during the third readings of the bills. Chu says that the KMT represents the public interest, accusing President William Lai (賴清德) and the Democratic Progressive Party of fighting against the opposition. After pushing through the amendments, the KMT caucus demanded that Legislative Speaker
Beijing’s approval of a controversial mega-dam in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River — which flows from Tibet — has ignited widespread debate over its strategic and environmental implications. The project exacerbates the complexities of India-China relations, and underscores Beijing’s push for hydropower dominance and potential weaponization of water against India. India and China are caught in a protracted territorial dispute along the Line of Actual Control. The approval of a dam on a transboundary river adds another layer to an already strained bilateral relationship, making dialogue and trust-building even more challenging, especially given that the two Asian
RSS