Control yuan, taiwan | CY, Concerned with Cultural Heritage of Indigenous Tao, Approves Investigation Report Providing Opinions on Sustainable Development of Orchid Islands

Orchid Island is located off the southeast coast of Taiwan. Spanning about 48 square kilometers, the island is known as home to the Tao people and for its natural attractions. Having had little contact with outsiders, the Tao have been able to preserve their cultural system comparatively thoroughly.

The Control Yuan (CY) is concerned with the preservation of this culture and the protection of the rights of the Tao. Five CY members—Fan Sun-lu, Upay Radiw Kanasaw, Pu Chung-cheng, Liu Tien Chiu-chin, and Chen Chin-jun—spent 15 months conducting a comprehensive investigation of Orchid Island’s key infrastructure and visited there in person for inspection and discussion. The report provides 18 opinions and has been approved by the CY’s Committee on Domestic and Ethnic Affairs.

These opinions cover Tao experimental education, teacher training, development of cultural products, indigenous agricultural culture, maintenance of traditional semi-underground Tao homes, coastal defenses, building a new hospital, improvement of transportation infrastructure, environment and garbage disposal, and tourist facilities.

President of the Control Yuan Chen Chu said in a symposium with the five members at Lanyu High School in Taitung County on September 1, 2021 that the Tao of Orchid Island have a courageous and beautiful culture, and the CY is very concerned with how the wisdom and philosophy of the Tao elders can continue being passed on to future generations. She also added that she hopes that the youth will be able to receive the best possible traditional cultural education.

The CY will continue to play the role of supervising the government and urge the relevant ministries of the Executive Yuan, tracking the progress of improvements made in construction work on Orchid Island to safeguard the rights of the indigenous residents.

Source: Control Yuan, Taiwan