Hi~I am Mike~

Below are some important topics which can stimulate our deep thought. I think it is highly the time for us to learn something from what has happened recently, and I also love to know how you guys think over the things happening in our lives.Besides the issues I offer below, I also attached the response from my friends to my article, and hope that their voices will help you to contemplate these issues.

1. When you are going abroad , how would you intro yourself to foreigners , like where are you from and why ? And think about when people think you are from China or any other Asian Country , what would you think and how will you answer or explain? 2. Do you think National Identity matters ? What do you think about National Identity when you go abroad ? Is it becoming an important issue when you go abroad ? And why ? 3. Tell us your opinions on National Identity , you are encouraged to talk about your personal observation and thoughts. 4. Tell us how would you do to improve Taiwan's international recognition ? 5. What do you think about Taiwan's Media Problem and why ? Do you think it is good or not ? If not , please tell us how would you do to improve it ?

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Mike,
great issue, important issue.
The National Taiwan Normal University Dean of Fine Arts, Professor Apex Lin, has just launched an exhibition on the subject titled "My homeland".
He says that Taiwan is "drifting " , like a cloud in the sky or a leaf on the ocean. He urges his students to search their hearts and their own personal history then to assert a new national and person identity.
Interestingly, he states that his intention is not born of political considerations. He also points to the importance of "spiritual" aspects in the search for a new Taiwanese identity.
I notice that Australia is making use of citizenship tests (for foreigners wishing to become Australian citizens) to stimulate debate on the issue of Australian nation identity. Who are our heroes? What place does sport have in our culture? How do we view the disadvantaged? What relationship do we aim to maintain between the people and our politicians? What foreign policies do we stand for? What vision do we hold for the future?
The same is obvious when teaching IELTS or TEFL.These tests are being used to integrate and assimilate new residents and those aspiring to citizenship. They test English levels while importing cultural values. The content of these tests is more and more frequently an issue in the public arena. This forces the community to define and realign themselves. Clever politics wouldn't you agree?

David

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Here is from one of my another friend, Hank, to the Taiwan issue.

First of all，I think that recognition is not the same with awareness.
But it has some logical relationship，that is we have to let foreigners know Taiwan and then we can tell him what are they different between Taiwan and China.
It means strengthening Taiwan awareness is first step.
So I try to provide some ways to enlarge Taiwan awareness first.
Basically，as a new product is put on the market，we have to do some promotion campaigns，so does Taiwan.
I want to divide promotion tools into two parts，one is software and the other is hardware. Moreover，according its effect speed，I also divide them into fast and slow.

This is the structure built thought these two thinking ways.

Hardware: 1. people2. product3. food4. construction5. etc..
Software: 1. music2. culture by movies or operas3. trip4. Olympic event5. religion6. charity7. etc..

These are ways we can use to improve our awareness.Once they know Taiwan，and then we can position what we want.
But it is really hard to change someone’s thoughts if a perception has occupied it first.
So through interviews or questionnaires in recent years，we can understand Taiwan has an image of technology.
Hence，we still can deepen this concept and no need to change.
That will make others remind Taiwan very soon if technology，this term，strikes them suddenly.
Finally，it is the most difficult part eager to recognize the difference between Taiwan and China.First of all，it depends on the TA is us or foreigners.
For Foreigners，maybe they just want to know what is Taiwan and where it is.If they really want to understand a lot，I prefer to let them come to Taiwan for a trip.
It is the most efficient way to know what it is different with China.
Maybe by this trip they will know Taiwan is more diversified than they already knowand then tell their friends.
It is better than any other promotion strategies.
Action speaks louder than words or media.
But if we want us to recognize the difference between Taiwan and China，it is totally different from the above.
Perhaps，we could also divide it into lots of parts from country to people.
It is involved in the national identity，it is more complicated than promote a country.
And it is also out of the area of this question.Recognition is a very wide term.
It depends upon which part you want to let others understand，it can derives different strategies.
However，I think in this stage making more people knowto all of you!!
Taiwan is the most important.

I've posted links to both ESWN and Jujuflop in the "Links" section of this blog (on the righthand side). Please give them a look. ESWN does great translations that often lead directly to stories in the mainstream media, including the NY Times, the Guardian, and other huge newspapers. Jujuflop does (actually, "did," since the blogger moved away) the best research and analysis of any English Taiwan blog.

You can add your own links to the list by looking in "Template" section. Scroll down near the bottom and copy the format of the other links. If you don't feel comfortable with HTML, just e-mail me the link and I'll do it for you. (If you don't know what HTML is, that counts as "not feeling comfortable with HTML.")

Also, Sigrid, Meg, and Rado have all written updates recently. I want to remind you that you don't just need to agree in your comment. Well-reasoned criticism is valuable, too.

Oh, and don't forget to sign your name at the end of each entry and comment.

—Chris

I read this article in a couple of months ago.
It's perhaps not really an article with political issue.
However, once one has the sucificent confidence to his/her own country,
the national identity could be deep-rooted more.

Our President Chen is a representative from nobody to somebody,

his spirit is to appreciate for sure.

Yet, recently, Taiwanese are sick of scandle-ridden to President Chen.

Freedom House, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization in New York, is working for the political and economic freedom around the world. This organization arrays seven degrees to evaluate how democratic country is. The 1st degree represents for the most democracy; and the 7th degree is vice versa. Taiwan’s rating has improved from 2 to 1 because of the freedom of political rights and electoral reforms in 2006.

“In 2004 and 2005, Taiwan launched ambitious constitutional reforms that have cut the size of the national parliament in half. The country also made an effort to reduce corruption and improve the quality of political representation through ambitious electoral reform. Taiwan's tense relationship with neighboring China took a turn for the worse during 2005 with Beijing's announcement of an anti-secession law, which authorizes the use of military force against Taiwan in the event "peaceful" attempts to unify with Taiwan prove ineffective.” (http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfmpage=22&year=2006&country=7069)

Huntington, a political scientist known for his analysis of the relationship between the military and the civil government, came up with “two turn over test” which Taiwan didn’t past this test yet. As a young democratic country, Taiwan seems to be making progress for the way.

Huntington furthermore mentioned that “willingness” and “capacity” are two crucial elements for decolonized countries to promote the democracy or not. From the event of Depose-Chen rally proceeding, Taiwanese is upset over President Chen’s corruption. While we Taiwanese telling the black and white, we also could take Huntington’s theories as a consideration. Willingness perhaps can be shown from a leader’s determination; but capacity depends on a leader’s charisma and assertiveness. Yet how intertwine those two elements? Education matters!!

More information about Freedom House: http://www.freedomhouse.org/

Meg Ti-Cheng Chiu



[轉貼]龍應台談世界公民意識

進統一星巴克買咖啡，你知道可以指名要一杯「公平咖啡」嗎？

去年孩子從德國來訪，15歲的老二發問：「台灣怎麼每個街角都有7-11？」19歲的老大接口說：「對呀，我也奇怪政府怎會允許？」──媽媽龍應台忍不住好奇他們為何這麼說，沒想到這兩個青少年指出，7-11這類跨國企業有龐大財力人力可以營運，勢必擠壓本土柑仔店的生存，當一個城市的跨國企業越膨脹，意味小資本產業消失，城市的多元文化與在地特色也遭受打擊。

從小到大，孩子許多發言都讓龍應台大感驚訝他們的世界公民意識從何而來？昨晚她在「清華思想沙龍」，從主人變「客人」，以「台灣人能不能有世界公民意識？」為題演講，觀察自己的孩子在德國的教育與生活環境中成長，她發現「原來在那個環境中，公民教育幾乎無所不在，而且是『世界公民教育』！」

學校環境中，一半孩子是外國人，還有交換學生，足球隊與社團則不斷訓練著個人與團體的互動溝通；他們在學校中每一堂課討論政治、社會、公民、宗教、倫理，談個人如何面對權威、組織、國家、政府，看全球化市場經濟，談個人與良知的抉擇，幾乎不需要有專門一堂「公民教育」來教孩子怎麼成為「世界公民」。

世界公民教育無所不在，存在於每一堂課、每一個接收到報紙廣播電視電影的時刻，甚至晚餐桌上的談話。

誰是「Global Citizen」？龍應台指出：要認知到個人行動可以造成不同；關心公平、正義；關懷人類社區的現在和未來，認為這種關懷不為國界阻擋；以行動表達關懷。

她舉加拿大的「維多利亞公民教育網」為例，教十幾歲的青少年認識全球化下的貿易、貧窮問題、生態問題、人權問題、健康問題……，讓他們知道，世界上有多少人死於瘧疾，愛滋孤兒以何等驚人的幾何級數增多，教孩子怎麼寫信反應他們的關切，要把信寄到哪些關鍵單位，還要把副本寄到報社。

這個網站也讓孩子了解，為什麼一國富會導致另一國貧窮，在一杯咖啡裡，咖啡農被剝削有多少？而跨國連鎖企業的邊際利益有多可觀！

由是他們不能不知道，「樂施會」推動公平咖啡，輔助坦桑尼亞卡蓋拉合作社的三萬農民，也迫使雀巢將伊索比亞600萬美金債務減為150萬，星巴克則有「公平咖啡日」，台灣是在每月20日，這天咖啡商保證供應的是高價而非剝削價買來的咖啡豆。

龍應台強調，台灣國民所得排名全球第30名，超過紐西蘭、西班牙、葡萄牙、希臘；我們的人口結構，2003年就每三對有一對外籍通婚，外籍人口超過60萬，我們必須教育孩子具備「世界公民」的意識。

「教育」正是使國家向上提昇的關鍵，所以龍應台強調，清華思想沙龍要「影響有影響力的人」，這些人是老師，是青年，是家長，要讓大家相信甘地的話：「你必須成為你想看到的世界的改變之鍵。」 【2006/03/22 民生報】

I have read an article, a speech delivered by Dr. David Plott (former editor-in-chief of the Far Eastern Economic Review), titled "Does Taiwan really matter? An outsider's view," which is posted on Michael Turton's blog. Following is my sum up of it and my personal opinions.


1. the summing up of Dr. Plott's speech

Taiwan has contributed so much to China's economy success that two sides are inter-depending on each other.

(The design, engineering, logistical, and supply-chain expertise of a lot of China's electronics and high-end technology exports owe their success to Taiwanese businesses…and therefore to the accumulation of China's own foreign reserves…that word[describing the relation] is “interdependence”…It is odd that some Taiwanese would focus on the word "dependence" to describe the relationship of Taiwan to China, because Taiwan's economy has long been "dependent" on other economies through trade and business and investment ties.)

Though it's possible that China will take drastic moves to damage Taiwan's economy, it will definitely hurt itself too.

(…souring its reputation with investors, businesses and governments elsewhere in the world. It would also undermine China's standing in multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization.)

By further economic integration between Taiwan and China, and China and the world, shared interests will emerge and the war is more unlikely to break out. That's why Taiwan matters.

(As the greatest experiment in economic integration the world has ever seen, the European Union, demonstrates, economic integration has a powerful effect on the perceptions of common interests among nations… One could argue just as forcefully that economically integrated countries seldom go to war against each other.)

Taiwan also matters because it serves as a successful model of "Asian/Chinese democracy," and is critical to the future of democracy in China.

(The deep roots that democracy has planted in Taiwan are an embarrassment to those on the mainland, or even in Hong Kong, who argue that democracy imperils economic progress or leads to instability. The success of democracy in Taiwan is absolutely critical to the future of democracy in China.)

However, the hijacking of "Taiwanese identity" by some politicians in Taiwan has put Taiwan and the world's interests and security in danger.

(China fears Taiwanese independence. And it will go to war to prevent it…what troubles me most about the issue of Taiwanese identity is how easily it can be exploited for domestic political gain…)

The expression of "Taiwanese identity" doesn't have to be independence, as the experience of EU has demonstrated.

(Has the emergence of the European Union effaced the identity of the French, the Germans, or the Italians? I would argue it has deepened their respective cultural identities, while at the same time layering them with a new, evolving European identity.)

The way out for Taiwan is to seek identity but not independence, and develop democracy but not polarization.

(There is nothing in the rich web of cultural, social and historical experiences that make up Taiwanese identity that require independence, so long as China does not seek reunification by force and at the expense of Taiwanese democracy…One of the greatest challenges all democracies face is the risk of polarization, the tendency of political divisions within society to tear democracy apart.)

2. My opinions about the speech

The "route map" for Taiwan provided by Dr. David Plott is like this: the threat of war Taiwan faces can be alleviated by integrating more with China's economy and putting aside issues about independence; the future of Taiwan can be assured by developing a successful democracy model of Asian and Chinese.

I have some critics about this route. First, the danger of integrating with China's economy doesn't only come from Beijing government's intension, but also from the uncertainty of China's economy. As what David said in his speech, its pension system, income gap, environment pollution, and banking system are all in a mess and post great risk to its economy growth. Now with such a high concentration of Taiwan's economy on China, a reasonable management and diversification is necessary and also make sense, even in terms of business SOP. Therefore, economy interdependence is a way to prevent war, but too much of it would also be a way to mutual destruction.

Second, although seeking independence would undermine cross-strait relations and thus post dangers to Taiwan, the voice of it cannot be muted. The logic is simple: as China wages its power to block Taiwan's participation in IGO and NGOs, declaring its ownership over Taiwan, and the trend of China fever is emerging around the world, what would be the perception of Taiwan in "outsider's" view? We don't have to put this issue so eagerly that makes Taiwan a "trouble maker" (though the real trouble maker is China), but we can't let the international community think people in Taiwan are willing to accept China's setting. Furthermore, if one day we have to negotiate with Beijing to strike a deal, without accumulating our bargains from now on (though it's a little bit frustrating, in the worst scenario independence might become a tool), what can we depend on besides an uncertain Washington?

The last point is about the effectiveness of a successful model of democracy for Taiwan's "autonomy." I totally agree that sound democracy would contribute to Taiwan's reputation and secure more support from international society, but doubt about its effect to Beijing government. If Taiwan's democracy exerts great pressure to CCP's legitimacy, will Beijing government welcome Taiwan? It would do everything it can to divide Taiwan's society to tear apart the democracy, the situation that Dr. Plott recommended people in Taiwan, not China, managed to avoid. The scenario in the minds of China leaders should be this: a unified China without democratic Taiwan is the best, a unified China with democratic Taiwan while Beijing government in charge of Taiwan the second. In short, even though Taiwan can maitain its democracy under China's adverse effort, Beijing will not allow Taipei to function the democracy by itself, since it post a challenge to CCP's ruling, as Dr. Plott said. I am not saying Taiwan's democracy is worthless, but to think Taiwan can preserve its autonomy under a unified China is kind of, forgive me, naive.


Above are my opinions, please feel free to share your view or point out my blindness.

Rado