Taiwan’s unique culture could be the country’s most effective diplomatic tool, but it is often underutilized and unappreciated by its own people, participants said at an international forum yesterday.
National Cultural Association secretary-general Chen Yu-shiu (陳郁秀) said that the government had failed to take full advantage of Taiwan’s culture when trying to shore up the country’s waning diplomatic space, even though Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage could catapult the nation to the center of international attention.
Calling culture a prime example of “soft power,” Chen said “Cultural exchange is the quickest and easiest way to communicate with the rest of the world because appreciation of culture has become the common language of the global community.”
She pointed out that throughout world history, countries have used their own unique culture in exchange for friendship and recognition.
For example, prior to establishing relations with China, former US president Richard Nixon launched “ping pong diplomacy” in Beijing in 1971.
The New York Philharmonic Orchestra also recently performed in North Korea in an attempt to thaw the icy relationship between Pyongyang and Washington.
The secretary-general, however, lamented that many Taiwanese people do not have a thorough understanding and appreciation of the nation’s rich local culture.
“Many people only know Taiwan for its technological advancements, but ignore its colorful cultural heritage. Taiwan not only has a plethora of various fauna and flora, it is also the home of several the world-class performing groups and fine artists,” she said, citing the example of world-renowned Cloud Gate Dance Troupe.
The chairman of Soochow University’s political science department, Luo Chih-cheng (羅致政), echoed Chen’s views, saying a country would not be able to promote its cultural values unless its people had a sound understanding of what the country has to offer.
“The problem with Taiwan is not a lack of cultural assets, but that the people and the government do not know how to package and promote the country’s assets. It is impossible to create a brand when the product is not appreciated,” he said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Tzu-pao (楊子葆) said while it is true that the government should undertake “cultural diplomacy,” he said a “synergy” must be created before Taiwan can use its culture to carve out international space.
Yang said a country’s level of cultural appreciation is a composite of each individual’s effort therefore it requires a nationwide campaign to promote and protect Taiwan’s culture.
Yang recalled a story when he was in Burkina Faso on a diplomatic visit. He met an African official who praised the hospitality of the Taiwanese people he experienced when he was a graduate student in Pingtung.
“Taiwan’s best cultural asset is the kindness of its people,” he said.
A relatively large earthquake may strike within the next two weeks, following a magnitude 5.2 temblor that shook Taitung County this morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. An earthquake struck at 8:18am today 10.2km west of Taitung County Hall in Taitung City at a relatively shallow depth of 6.5km, CWA data showed. The largest intensity of 4 was felt in Taitung and Pingtung counties, which received an alert notice, while areas north of Taichung did not feel any shaking, the CWA said. The earthquake was the result of the collision between the Philippine Plate and the Eurasian Plate, the agency said, adding
Snow fell in the mountainous areas of northern, central and eastern Taiwan in the early hours of yesterday, as cold air currents moved south. In the northern municipality of Taoyuan, snow started falling at about 6am in Fusing District (復興), district head Su Tso-hsi (蘇佐璽) said. By 10am, Lalashan National Forest Recreation Area, as well as Hualing (華陵), Sanguang (三光) and Gaoyi (高義) boroughs had seen snowfall, Su said. In central Taiwan, Shei-Pa National Park in Miaoli County and Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area in Nantou County saw snowfall of 5cm and 6cm respectively, by 10am, staff at the parks said. It began snowing
HOLIDAY EXERCISE: National forest recreation areas from north to south offer travelers a wide choice of sights to connect with nature and enjoy its benefits Hiking is a good way to improve one’s health, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said, as it released a list of national forest recreation areas that travelers can visit during the Lunar New Year holiday. Taking a green shower of phytoncides in the woods could boost one’s immunity system and metabolism, agency Director-General Lin Hwa-ching (林華慶) cited a Japanese study as saying. For people visiting northern Taiwan, Lin recommended the Dongyanshan National Forest Recreation Area in Taoyuan’s Fusing District (復興). Once an important plantation in the north, Dongyanshan (東眼山) has a number of historic monuments, he said. The area is broadly covered by
COMMUNITY SPIRIT: As authorities were busy with post-typhoon cleanups elsewhere, residents cleaned fallen leaves and cut small fallen trees blocking the hiking trails All hiking trails damaged by Typhoon Kong-rey have been repaired and has reopened for people who want a refreshing hike in Taipei during the Lunar New Year holiday, a city official said. The Taipei Basin is known for its easily accessible hiking trails. It has more than 130 trails combined into the 92km-long Taipei Grand Trail, which was divided into seven major routes when it was launched by the Taipei City Government in 2018. Last year, a part of the sixth route of the Grand Trail collapsed due to Typhoon Kong-rey, which hit Taiwan in October. The damaged section belongs to one
RSS