Miaoli's Nanjhuang Junior High School received a lunch fund donation of NT$600,000 from a company at the end of April. However, the company was a China-based liquor manufacturer and the "Republic of China" national title on the big check prop used during the donation ceremony was covered up. After the event, the company pulled out a "Passionate Xi Liquor Enters Treasure Island Taiwan" cloth banner. School officials and local education bureau officials posed for a group photo, arousing the united front controversy. School officials said they maybe lack careful considerations, while the Miaoli County Education Department said sensitive or political controversies should be avoided.
A Chinese company recently donated NT$600,000 to Miaoli County's Nanjhuang Junior High School for school lunches. However, the year on the big check used during the ceremony was written as "2019" instead of "108th Year of the Republic of China." In the photo are the school's principal, company representatives, and a supervisor from the education department. The company also hung a red "Passionate Xi Liquor Enters Treasure Island Taiwan" banner in front of the school, sparking controversy.
(The chair of the company) said he would have to report to his board when he gets back and he may face some difficulties. He said he hoped we could agree to partially covering (the national title).
The principal says he does not know anyone at the company personally and the donation was facilitated by Shitou Mountain's Quanhua Temple. He also said the school agreed to cover the national title out of mutual respect and no one expected the photo to be posted on a Chinese website later on.
The donation is a good thing for the children. There's no need to overthink things all the time.
One observer says what happened was no big deal and doesn't need to be politicized, especially when rural families and children are benefiting. The local education department says it is still investigating the incident.
As no laws have been broken, we are of course optimistic. As for other details or areas where things might have been done differently, we will ask them to make corrections.
The department says nothing illegal happened and no one will be punished, but politically sensitive issues or cross-strait interaction are best avoided and schools should proactively file reports to the department when necessary to avoid controversy.