The "Ministry of Examinations" of Taiwan decided on March 3 to delete all subjects concerning "national history and geography" from 12 kinds of exams including public servant enrollment and international news staff qualification. The move, which intends to exclude knowledge of both mainland and Taiwan history, geography from the island's tests, has aroused strong indignation from relevant parsonages on the island.

Deleted subjects reportedly include "national history", "brief introduction to national history and geography" and the like. As a result, basic knowledge as "By expelling invaders from which country did Zheng Chenggong recover Taiwan at the end of Ming Dynasty?" and "What is the unique culture of native inhabitants in Taiwan?" will fade away in the minds of today's Taiwan people.

The decision will reportedly be fully implemented as of January 16, 2006, which will affect 16 kinds of exams including public servant enrollment, college entrance, international news staff and "diplomatic staff" qualification.

The move has triggered strong indignation in the island. Kuomintang (KMT) "legislator" Hong Xiuzhu said that this only proved Taiwan authorities' failure in composing the history and geography of Taiwan as an independent state, so they simply cut contents concerning both Taiwan and the mainland.

Philosophy professor with Taiwan University Wang Xiaobo further pointed out that this act by Taiwan authorities couldn't be more ridiculous, since a country's history always dies before the country itself. How can Taiwan separatists ever cross out the Chinese history, which is 5,000 year old?

By People's Daily Online