Taiwan Today
Date: December 5, 2016

Sustainable Governance and Enduring Peace: An Exhibition Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of

the Recovery of the South China Sea Islands will open to the public free of charge Dec. 9-19 at Taipei-based Academia Historica, Taiwan’s foremost institution dedicated to studying and recording the nation’s history.

Jointly organized by the historical organization and the Ministry of the Interior, the exhibition focuses on the three themes of “Historical Developments,” “Key to the Southern Territories” and “Sustainable Peace.” It aims to raise public awareness of Taiping Island and its history, measures taken by the Republic of China (Taiwan) to effectively govern the island and the importance the government attaches to South China Sea issues.

On Dec. 12, 1946, two ROC frigates, the Taiping and Chungyeh, arrived at Taiping Island, the largest of the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, marking the completion of the recovery of the South China Sea islands by the country. According to the MOI, infrastructure projects on the islands such as a hospital and airport were completed in the following decades and incorporated into the nation’s administrative system, laying a solid foundation for the role that the ROC now plays in the South China Sea.

“The last exhibition on Taiping Island was held two years ago and put much focus on historical documents,” said Chen Shing-li, a section chief of the MOI’s Department of Land Administration responsible for organizing the exhibition. “This time we opted for a softer tone.”

According to the official, this year’s event changes course by, for example, showcasing the daily lives of people on Taiping Island through photos they took while there, as well as video clips of interviews with the former residents.    [FULL  STORY]