Caribbean News

St Lucia media delegation visits Taiwan

A delegation comprised of members of the St Lucia media has recently returned from a familiarisation trip to Taiwan. Guests of the Taiwanese government, the group included Carmy Joseph from HTS, Christopher Kessell from DBS, Mary Polius from RSL, Katherine Atkinson from The Star Publishing Company, Lucius Doxerie from NTN and independent political commentator Denys Springer.

The week-long visit gave the media personalities the opportunity to observe the workings of Taiwan’s most successful government initiatives as well as an insight into the cultural life of the island. The media delegation was based primarily in Taipei where it met Government Information Office officials and a roster of high level ministry and government agency officers.

The itinerary included visits with Ministry of Tourism officials, the Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI), the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Hsinchu Air Force Base, Tao Yuan District of Agricultural Improvement, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs Export Processing Zone and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

Additionally delegates visited the world-famous National Palace Museum that houses some of Chinese history’s best archaeological and artistic wonders, the remarkable architectural feat, the Taipei 101—to date the world’s tallest building, as well as Longshuan Temple and the Hiaxu Night Market. The full itinerary was intended to give delegates as complete a picture as was possible in a week, of the basis of Taiwan’s development.

In the last 40 years Taiwan has undergone rapid development from a largely rural, agrarian society to a highly modern one. At ITRI commercial industries partner with the research institute to develop and test innovations that are applied directly in the field. Tao Yuan Agricultural District officials revealed that almost one million hectares of land are under cultivation and the country is able to satisfy 80 percent of its local demand for produce. The BNHI, the Taiwanese health insurance scheme enjoys universal enrollment with 99 percent of the population covered.

Tourism has become the next big frontier for Taiwan, says Stanley Yen, director of the tourist board. With the relaxation of travel restrictions between the island and mainland China and the expected introduction of direct flights in the near future, Taiwan wants to attract 3,000 visitors a day. Currently Taiwan receives four million visitors a year primarily from Japan and the rest of Asia.

The 13,900 square mile island, though significantly larger and more populous at 23 million inhabitants, bears much in common with St Lucia. Taiwan is verdant, mountainous and its culture influenced by coastal living. Its recent history however, has been turbulent, overshadowed by the contentious dispute between mainland China and the millions of Taiwanese who reject China’s One China policy. Taiwan, referred to as the Republic of China (ROC) continues to assert its identity as an independent island state, a claim that mainland China, known as The People’s Republic of China (PRC) does not acknowledge.

In amidst this social and political strain Taiwan has been driven by the challenges to its political status to develop a strong economic backbone and maintain a staunch self-reliance in the areas of agriculture, health, education and technological innovation. Taiwan has also asserted its distinct cultural identity, embracing the unique combination of its century’s old archaeological history that originated on mainland China, and its many Pacific aboriginal island influences.

Emerging as an industrial success story, Taiwan is internationally recognised as being a source for many of the world’s technological innovations. While some of the most cutting edge developments in their field are happening, the country maintains a commitment to the preservation of its culturally diverse heritage and to supporting and developing its agricultural industries.

Taiwan has also pursued a vigorous foreign policy in forming and maintaining alliances with members of the international community. It has also been lobbying for re-entry into the United Nations after its 1971 expulsion, with a particular drive for recognition at the World Health Organisation (WHO), a position which has become more urgent to Taiwanese Health officials with the legacy of the SARS epidemic and threats of the H5N1(Avian/Bird Flu) epidemic in the region. It is also the argument of top health officials that Taiwan has much to bring to the table by way of international aid and innovation in the field of medicine.

These initiatives and the continued development of Taiwan are overshadowed by Taiwan’s uncertain future. One official refers to Taiwan as an ‘international orphan’, maintaining that recognition by the United Nations is the only way for Taiwan to move forward.

This unresolved contention was brought to the fore in St Lucia when the current administration accepted the overtures of the ROC, ending a nine year diplomatic relationship with China (PRC) in 2006. The highly controversial move has engaged the island in a vibrant debate. Supporters maintain that Taiwan is a sovereign independent nation and that St Lucia is pursuing its own sovereign right in pursuing relations with ROC.

Detractors argue that the alliance with what China refers to as a rogue province that does not enjoy the recognition of the United Nations, is folly, particularly in view of a rising tide of support by the world’s biggest powers. St Lucia and Taiwan observe friendly diplomatic ties and Taiwan maintains a fully staffed Embassy here on island..

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