An outward looking Taiwan. This was the message that hit home most for me from the four different speakers we listened to today. From the perspectives of tourism, culture, foreign affairs and the president of Taiwan himself, there seemed to be a common message: the bright future of Taiwan depends on positive contacts and friendships in the face of the official view of most international communities which do not recognise Taiwan as a state. Therefore the very trip which i am partaking in at the moment is important in develolping a bidirectional relationship with Taiwan and its people so that we can all become more 'internationalized'.
Another message which struck me was the prioritisation of the citizens of Taiwan. Although some advocate a more aggressive approach in drawing out the difference between Mainland China and Taiwan, the interests of the people are being put first in the current political climate. This means that Taiwan can still have a presence on the world stage even though it may not be in the exact way everyone wants. For instance, forgoing the name of Taiwan is considered worthwhile, otherwise Taiwan would not have a place in the international community at all.
My two cents on the two messages which I took away from today's forums.
Ingo Wey, 30th July 2009
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