The ROC government has long faced an array of seemingly insurmountable obstacles as it goes about its business in a world increasingly shaped by the forces of globalization. But these have been largely overcome through the use of soft power, which can be defined as a country’s ability to influence events through persuasion and attraction as opposed to military of financial coercion.
One of the most innovative forms of soft power employed by the government to date must surely be the undeniable beauty and appeal of Taiwan-grown orchids. It seems hardly a week goes by without these fragrant flowers garnering headlines for all the right reasons in the international press.
The latest high-profile success chalked up by the island’s orchids took place in the U.K. last month when the hybrid moth orchid Doritaenopsis Elizabeth II was included in the Royal Horticultural Society International Orchid Register. Accompanied by Phalaenopsis Charming William and Doritaenopsis Charming Kate, the three species are intended by the cultivators to serve as a continuing celebration of the nuptials of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April 2011.
This welcome leg up for Taiwan’s reputation as a leading player in the global orchid industry comes not long after the island won royal approval and critical recognition at the biggest horticultural event in the U.K., the Chelsea Flower Show.
Queen Elizabeth II, a renowned green thumb who rarely misses the opportunity to learn firsthand of fascinating flora throughout her realm and in other parts of the world, made a point of including the Taiwan pavilion on her official visit list during the event’s May 23, 2011, media and VIP preview day.
Welcomed by then ROC Representative to the U.K. Chang Siao-yue, the queen cast an approving eye over the display designed to resemble a church filled with orchids. Inspired by the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the 91-square-meter exhibition space was brimming with more than 4,000 orchids of over 100 varieties.
Featuring mainly indigenous Cattleya, Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis orchids, the pavilion spoke volumes about the abundance of creativity surrounding this signature Taiwan industry—a fact reaffirmed by Chang’s presentation to the British monarch of Queen Elizabeth II, created in celebration of her visit and 2012 diamond jubilee.
But the queen was not the only one to recognize and appreciate the beauty of Taiwan’s orchids at the show. On May 24, 2011, the island improved on its silver medal debut in 2010 by finishing in top spot out of 650 exhibits with a gold medal for pavilion design.
Such acclaim is a resounding vote of confidence in Taiwan’s orchid industry and will help the country further expand its presence in the lucrative U.K. and European markets. In 2010, Taiwan exported US$149 million of flowers with orchids accounting for 77 percent, an annual increase of 36 percent. Just 12 months on, and the value of orchid exports have grown by close to 25 percent.
But these healthy numbers would not be possible without the dedication of local growers, the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association and ongoing government efforts to cultivate the industry and promote the island as the kingdom of moth orchids. Although this support takes many forms, one of the most successful is the Taiwan Orchid Plantation in Houbi District, Tainan.
Launched in 2004, the 200-hectare facility is home to large-scale orchid cultivation and serves as a center for coordinating research spanning a variety of areas such as cloning techniques, plant disease research, shipping processes and quarantine procedures. The plantation also plays a leading role in implementing industrywide strategies for upgrading management practices and adopting globalized standards.
The proof of the plantation pudding will be on display for all to see at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. TOGA has again been invited to participate in the May 22-26 event in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, and is expected to pull out all stops in making sure the Taiwan pavilion successfully defends its title.
This is the third time for TOGA to be invited to participate in the world’s most prestigious annual flower show, an honor that takes on even greater significance given London’s hosting the Olympics in August. According to organizers, the event is already shaping up as sellout, with online demand for the over 155,000 tickets surpassing that of last year.
Another possible U.K. date for TOGA is the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Running July 3-8 in Surrey, the event promises to be a spectacular platform for Taiwan to show off its orchids and flex its soft power muscle for the entire world to see.
Despite rising from humble beginnings just over two decades ago, Taiwan’s orchid industry is now second to none, serving as an example for other local businesses looking to make a splash on the global stage. In addition to contributing to national prosperity, this achievement plays a vital role in enhancing the ROC’s international standing and sowing the seeds for its soft power success.
Ed Zacapa is a freelance writer based in Kaohsiung. These views are the author’s and not necessarily those of Taiwan Today. Copyright © 2012 by Ed Zacapa
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