In recent decades, the ROC government, in conjunction with indigenous groups at all levels of society, has been working to redress these past injustices. One of the key aspects of this process has been upholding each aboriginal group’s right to independent identification. Since 2001, the number of officially recognized indigenous tribes in Taiwan has risen from nine to 16, demonstrating the rich diversity of cultural heritages among the nation’s aboriginal peoples.
The ROC government is also actively engaged in efforts to promote language revitalization. Indigenous languages have been required courses at elementary schools in aboriginal communities since 2001, while Taiwan Indigenous Television, the first TV channel in Asia fully dedicated to aboriginal programming, will mark its 10th anniversary this summer. Furthermore, the Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples is working to increase the number of schools in aboriginal communities and bolster efforts to document tribal cultures and dialects.
Similarly, the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) is seeking to revitalize the language and traditions of the nation’s Hakka citizens. Hakka people, a subgroup of the Han Chinese majority, make up around 20 percent of Taiwan’s population and have a distinct culture and native tongue. In recent decades, use of the language has been declining, so the Cabinet-level HAC has developed a range of programs to help revive it, such as teacher training courses and online learning initiatives.
Taiwan has also cultivated international ties among aboriginal groups. In recognition of the shared Austronesian heritage of the Maori people of New Zealand and Taiwan’s indigenous tribes, the economic agreement signed between the two nations in 2013 includes provisions for aboriginal cultural cooperation. Meanwhile, Taiwan has hosted the annual International Austronesian Conference since 2002.
While the ROC government works to help rejuvenate local cultures, it is also promoting respect for and understanding of the diverse traditions among the country’s many new immigrants. Taiwan has been defined by successive waves of immigration, and the latest example of this trend has seen large numbers of new residents arrive from mainland China and Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam. According to the Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan is now home to more than 700,000 first- and second-generation immigrants, while it is estimated that by 2025 approximately 13 percent of those in their 20s will be second-generation immigrants.
As the ROC government helps new residents assimilate into Taiwanese society, it has also established policies to encourage them and their children to retain their customs in the hope that they can become bridges for economic and cultural exchanges. These initiatives include the New Immigrant Torch Project, an inter-ministerial program launched in 2012 that provides educational support for new immigrant parents and their children and funding for language classes that teach their mother tongues. Taiwan also offers a tolerant environment for people of all faiths as indicated by the fact that the nation was ranked second out of 232 countries and regions in the Religious Diversity Index released by the US-based Pew Research Center in 2014.
While much has been achieved in the past few decades, the ROC government recognizes that more needs to be done to preserve indigenous cultures and promote multicultural understanding, and it is constantly seeking to expand and enhance its efforts. Cultural diversity strengthens and enriches Taiwan, and the nation is committed to building a fully inclusive society based on equality, respect and tolerance.