China Voice: Stop fooling the young with false history

Students in Taiwan have the right to receive correct history education and should not be manipulated by political forces as tools for a political agenda.

Taiwan's education authority has adjusted the content of some textbooks in order to right some misreading of the island's history, such as altering "Japanese governance" to "Japanese colonization" and "(Chinese)take over of Taiwan" as "liberation of Taiwan."

The move met opposition from the Democratic Progress Party (DPP) and some organizations. Some high school students were also incited to protest outside the education authority's office, despite not knowing the difference between the new textbooks and old.

One young protestor was seen yelling and pushing his father to the ground, ignoring his kneeling mother as his parents tried to take him home.

The protestors' misperception of history and lack of national identity, a great danger to Taiwan, are resulted from the "Taiwan independence" propaganda spread by former leaders Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian from 1988 to 2008.

Lee and Chen practiced a de-sinicization policy and distorted historical facts in textbooks by beautifying Japanese invasion and defaming the mainland. For instance, they changed "Japanese colonization" into "Japanese governance" and "liberation day" of Taiwan into "day of suffering".

The Taiwan government of the time, led by Chen, also divided "Taiwan history" from Chinese history, and several textbooks even claimed that some Taiwan women "volunteered" to become comfort women for Japanese troops.

They "succeeded" in misleading some Taiwanese in understanding the true history, especially young, innocent students - as demonstrated by the protesting high schoolers.

However, the majority of students and public opinions are in support of the correction of textbooks and expressed their disagreement with the protest.

Many academics and parents called on ill-intentioned parties to "spare the children, spare Taiwan" and stop inciting young people to sacrifice for their own election and political interests.

The latest textbook adjustment was made after strong appeal by the island's people, and for academic and historical precision.

The education authority has responsibilities to pass on the true history to the young generation and help them form a correct national identity.

Students can determine right and wrong through their own learning and rational thinking instead of the black-handed influence of some politicians.

Certain parties must stop politicizing the issue or manipulating the students. The bewitched students must also sober up and think whether their acts are beneficial to the island.

Last month Lee Teng-hui, initiator of Taiwan's de-sinicization move, declared that the Diaoyu islands, an inherent Chinese territory affiliated to Taiwan, belong to Japan. How can the Taiwan students be fooled by and engage in the move of one who is selling your homeland? Endit