On Sept. 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong press release expressing great regret and condemnation of the use of the Nazi flag by a few Taiwanese citizens. We write to express our support for the reasoning conveyed in the ministry’s statement.
Symbols matter deeply in our society. Visual language is powerful, influencing our thoughts and emotions subtly and profoundly. This is true when we use casual emojis in our texts and even more so when we see world-known trademarks and national symbols.
National symbols carry profound meanings and evoke deep emotions. They reflect the history, struggles, and values of people and communities. As such, they deserve respect and sensitivity from global citizens due to the weight of the narratives they carry.
The Nazi Swastika is a prime example, being one of the most recognizable modern symbols.
It stems from the darkest chapter of Germany history, where it served as the most significant and notorious of hate symbols, representing antisemitism and racial segregation, which lead to the persecution of Jews and other communities, and those with a different religious and sexual orientations.
Nazi Germany went so far as to set in motion the Final Solution — a genocide that involved mass murders.
The Swastika flag as the symbol of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler also stands for the horror of World War II during which about 60 million people died: about 20 million military personnel and 40 million civilians.
Against this background, the use of the symbols associated with the Nazi party, the swastika and the swastika flag, is still outlawed in Germany. Many other countries, too, have banned Nazi symbols: It is considered a criminal offense if they are displayed publicly for non-educational purposes.
The display of this deeply offensive Nazi symbol on large flags in the heart of Taipei city is therefore deeply troubling and offensive, not only because of the atrocities associated with this symbol to Jews and many other communities deemed undesirable by the Nazis, but also because it dangerously normalizes and integrates a symbol of hate into an accepted reality.
Israel, bearing the indelible scars of the Holocaust, understands intimately the pain and suffering that Nazi symbols inflict, as does Germany remembering its history. This symbol is not merely a twisted cross; it represents a regime that orchestrated the genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others. Each time this symbol is presented, it tears open old wounds and revives memories of atrocities that should never be forgotten or trivialized.
Taiwan, a beacon of democracy and freedom in the Asia-Pacific region, has rightfully condemned the inappropriate use of a symbol steeped in hatred and discrimination.
It is true that freedom of speech is a fundamental right, but it is crucial to acknowledge the delicate balance between freedom of speech and the propagation of hate speech. The latter should never find shield or justification under the banner of free expression.
This is especially true when these offensive symbols are displayed in front of a school. Children are the most vulnerable members of our societies, they are strongly protected by law. It should be our common goal to shield them from malign influences and symbols of hate.
All nations and individuals bear the responsibility of weighing the impact of their words and actions on others, particularly when they harm or offend, as witnessed in this unfortunate event. Exercising democratic rights responsibly is an obligation that falls upon all of us.
The Taiwanese government has been a staunch advocate of human rights and freedoms, cohosting an annual event since 2016 to honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day alongside Israel and Germany. We are confident in Taiwan’s empathy, understanding and respect toward this important issue.
Now is an opportune time for Taiwan to act and foster an environment adhering to international norms and standards. In a world growing increasingly interconnected and interdependent, we should all collectively aspire for national symbols to serve as bridges of understanding, friendship and tolerance among us all, and avoid any symbols expressing the opposite. This prudent approach is even more important when uninformed and vulnerable children are exposed, as is the case in Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) today.
Maya Yaron is Israel’s representative to Taiwan. Jorg Polster is director-general of the German Institute Taipei.
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