The ROC Ministry of Culture is set to increase its overseas missions from three to 11 during the coming year as part of efforts promoting Taiwan’s soft power, according to MOC Minister Lung Ying-tai Nov. 6.
The NT$310 million (US$10.6 million) expansion project, Lung said, involves launching cultural centers and Taiwan academies in London, Moscow and other major cities across Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. At present, the country has cultural centers in New York, Paris and Tokyo, with Taiwan academies in Houston, Los Angeles and New York.
“As the first democracy in the Chinese-speaking world, Taiwan occupies a special position in terms of cultural diversity with established civic values,” she said. “We offer the world a different perspective on Chinese culture to that presented by Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.”
The minister’s remarks came while addressing the Overseas Chinese Affairs Council annual meeting in Taipei City, during which she urged OCAC representatives to take a greater part in the MOC expansion plan.
Lung said establishing more Taiwan academies is not about competing with mainland China’s Confucius Institutes. Instead, they will serve as “windows on Taiwan,” promoting studies of local culture, Sinology, Mandarin and traditional Chinese characters, she added.
The minister also said she has submitted a proposal to the Cabinet making the MOC solely responsible for Taiwan Academy operations, reducing the number of government agencies involved from 13.
“This initiative will go some way toward improving management and operations of this valuable Taiwan culture asset,” Lung said. (JSM)
Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw