Taiwan aiming to be Asia Pacific's cultural capitol


http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_conten..._Leisure_TAIWAN

Central News Agency
2009-11-03 07:57 PM


Taipei, Nov. 3 (CNA) Taiwan's government will invest NT$26.2 billion (US$804 million) over a four-year period to make Taiwan into a cultural and creative hub in the Asia Pacific region, with the aim of creating 43,000 jobs and a production value of more than NT$1 trillion by 2013.

Fang Jy-Shiuh, director of the Council for Cultural Affairs' (CCA's) first department, said Tuesday the plan has been devised to promote development of cultural and creative industries and help them to tap into the Chinese market.

Cultural and creative industries can include industries such as the local pop music, film, television, designing, handicraft and digital content industries.

Fang told reporters the project also aims to help at least 800 creative and cultural works win international prizes and forge NT$1.2 billion-worth of international cooperation deals.

The project is intended to generate more than 20 percent growth in media production value, triple overseas sales of media products, and stimulate local consumption of cultural and creative products and services, Fang said.

The CAA also aims to boost the ratio of cultural consumption expenditure to total household income from the current 13 percent to 15 percent by 2013, Fang added.

The motive behind the government's plan to boost the development of the industries is to accelerate industry transformation, invigorate the weak industries and create jobs, Fang said.

Taiwan's cultural and creative industries are now facing challenges of innovation. For example, the publishing sector is at a crucial stage of developing digital content products to maintain competitiveness, according to Fang.

The CCA will focus its efforts on bridging the gap of the industries' development between urban and rural areas and in helping small and medium businesses in the industries.

The cultural innovation industry is one of six flagship industries selected by the government for major development which also include tourism and leisure, medical care, biotechnology, green energy, and refined agriculture.

ambicious plans... i wonder what kind of trends they plan to create

taiwan already invented bubble tea. few countries have introduced something that is so a part of other peoples lifestyle that they dont even know who invented it. id list karaoke among asian countries in there as well.

The problem Taiwan faces is that there is very little that Taiwan can produce that others cannot. Taiwan can't depend on its cultural heritage because why go to Taiwan for Chinese (or Japanese) culture when you can go to China (or Japan)? Furthermore, the niche that Taiwan might otherwise occupy as a Westernized Asian country is occupied more firmly by South Korea. So, in order for Taiwan to increase its cultural capital, it must seek innovations beyond any of the traditional sources. This makes it a very challenging task.

how about Taiwan's aboriginal culture???

I think Taiwan has much to show the world...they r of course the mother country of maritime South East Asia and Oceania
To think that such a small island nation gave birth to a language family of people who r so diverse, culturally, physically, geographically
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2vm9F3DBrU&NR=1

For me as of economics aware person it's looking like a way to heat up the island economy and nothing more. If I were your president or PM I'd better shook off those fat state owned funds into commodities and let them lay for a decade or 1.5 after lifting up customs barriers. In my observations any state managed heating of economy always strikes back as it is now with $.

Also I have an economics related question for TW chat, does TW residents believes in possibility of building SK, JP and TW non military economical block?

banned

Sounds like a great Idea. It would make it easier for tourist and others to encounter and learn about Taiwanese culture. If done well, I'm sure this will bring many people specially from around Asia.

A taiwanese man invented ramen (instant noodles)

Lawl I have been to taiwan , I can tell you that the culture is not really unique. You can find chinese , japanese and mostly american culture there. Aboriginal has little influence on taiwanese culture , except the language and genetics. Well actually I take that back , because from what I remember , they practice aboriginal dances and performances in taiwanese kid/highschool schools.

Taiwanese mainstream culture is a mix of Western, Chinese, and Japanese culture. It is not really more "Chinese" than China; that is a common misconception made by anti-Communists who like to blame everything on the Cultural Revolution. But the Cultural Revolution is long over. I happen to be acquainted with modern Chinese culture at many levels, and it is more "Chinese" than Taiwan is, by far, even if you can't see it past the superficial modernity. Some basic food for thought:

1. Government

China: imperialist, autocratic, bureaucratic (as China has been for thousands of years)
Taiwan: democratic (a fundamentally Western system)

2. Media

China: state-controlled, word crimes (reminiscent of the Ming and Qing system of word crimes)
Taiwan: liberal, free speech (a fundamentally Western value)

3. Society

China: the rich stomps over the poor; government officials exploit the weak; many beggars on the streets (similar to Confucian society for thousands of years, except instead of Confucianism it's now "socialism with Chinese characteristics")
Taiwan: more egalitarian and developed (fundamentally Western values)

4. Cultural Expression

China: many high quality Chinese history and wuxia dramas; strong regional traditions (Beijing opera, Sichuan spicy food, etc.)
Taiwan: J-pop, history & wuxia treatments more like idol shows than serious dramas, not much regional traditions

5. Geopolitical outlook

China: Sinocentric, believes in unity of "All Under Heaven"
Taiwan: Sinophobic, with many believing in separation and independence