The nation’s Aboriginal population has increased by 90,000 in the past 10 years, from more than 420,000 in 2001 to the more than 510,000 last year, according to latest statistics released by the Ministry of the Interior.
Among the increases, 120,000 more children between the age of 15 and 19 registered their Aboriginal identity last year, compared with 10 years ago, which is a 33.66 percent increase, the data showed.
Commenting on the phenomenon, Association of Taiwan Indigenous Peoples’ Policies member Pasang Hsiao (蕭世暉) said the increase in Aboriginal identity registration among adults shows that identifying oneself as Aborigine is rising, however, the increase among students could mean that those Aboriginal students want to take advantage of bonus points allocated for Aboriginal students in school entrance exams.
Mayaw Biho, a documentary director from the Amis tribe, agreed with Hsiao’s interpretation, saying that many students are changing their ethnic identity out of practical considerations, but added that many people are also doing so for “ethnic justice.”
Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Sun Ta-chuan (孫大川) said the increase in the Aboriginal population is related to welfare incentives, but he believes that increased harmony among ethnic groups and less ethnic discrimination have also continued to increase the self-identity of Aborigines.
Currently, Aborigines enjoy benefits such as bonus points on entrance exams, as well as subsidies for pre-school education, study abroad, tuition, better old-age pensions and the right to buy or sell Aboriginal reserve lands to make up for the disadvantages experienced by Aborigines in the economy, education and employment.
However, Sun said that, based on the concept of equality as stated in the Constitution and the improvements in education and gaps in resources as many Aborigines move into cities, he has asked officials to look into setting up a threshold to exclude wealthier Aborigines from enjoying the benefits and welfare reserved for Aborigines.
The minister said the new measure is to avoid making non--Aborigines feel that they are deprived of certain rights due to ethnicity and thus prevent ethnic conflicts that such feelings could trigger, and leave the limited resources of the state to those who are most in need.
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said it is fully aware of the situation following reports that the son of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai (薄熙來) has arrived in Taiwan and is to marry a Taiwanese. Local media reported that Bo Guagua (薄瓜瓜), son of the former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is to marry the granddaughter of Luodong Poh-Ai Hospital founder Hsu Wen-cheng (許文政). The pair met when studying abroad and arranged to get married this year, with the wedding breakfast to be held at The One holiday resort in Hsinchu
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon this morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan between Friday and Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The storm, which as of 8am was still 1,100km southeast of southern Taiwan, is currently expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, the CWA said. Because of its rapid speed — 28kph as of 8am — a sea warning for the storm could be issued tonight, rather than tomorrow, as previously forecast, the CWA said. In terms of its impact, Usagi is to bring scattered or
An orange gas cloud that leaked from a waste management plant yesterday morning in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音) was likely caused by acidic waste, authorities said, adding that it posed no immediate harm. The leak occurred at a plant in the district’s Environmental Science and Technology Park at about 7am, the Taoyuan Fire Department said. Firefighters discovered a cloud of unidentified orange gas leaking from a waste tank when they arrived on the site, it said, adding that they put on Level A chemical protection before entering the building. After finding there was no continuous leak, the department worked with the city’s Department
RSS