A preview of “A Century of Resilient Tradition: Exhibition of the Republic of China’s Diplomatic Archives” will run until March 17 at the Taipei Guest House as part of ROC centennial celebrations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The exhibition is expected to provide all walks of Taiwan’s society a better understanding of the nation’s history and the government’s efforts in preserving diplomatic documents,” MOFA said March 14.
Seven pacts on display from the Qing dynasty, including the Treaty of Shimonoseki, by which the Qing ceded control of Taiwan and Penghu to Japan in 1895, show the nature of the unequal treaties of the time. The Sino-German Agreement of 1921 and 11 other documents from the 1920s to 1940s demonstrate the ROC’s improved position among the nations of the world.
The Cairo Declaration of 1943, stating, “All the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa and the Pescadores shall be restored to the Republic of China,” along with other agreements, establishes ROC sovereignty over Taiwan.
The Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty of 1954 and 18 other pacts testify to Taiwan’s resilience in national defense, diplomatic and trade relations, human rights, health care and travel.
MOFA’s archives hold 2,713 treaties, agreements and construction contracts, 615 maps and 303,279 other documents. The actual exhibition is set to take place at the National Palace Museum from Aug. 8, 2011 to Jan. 11, 2012. (THN)