Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Charred body of Tibetan self-immolator Tamding Tso.

DHARAMSHALA, November 7: In confirmed reports coming out of Tibet, a Tibetan woman set herself on fire today in an apparent protest against China’s occupation, on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party’s 18th National Congress.

Tamding Tso, a 23-year-old mother of one, passed away in her self-immolation protest in Rebkong region of Amdo, eastern Tibet.

While participating in a symposium on Oct. 20 that sought to discuss the establishment of Taiwanese subjective identity in light of current issues, which was organized by the Taiwan Association of University Professors Hsueh Hua-yuan (薛化元) said in an essay that: “Although some people do not want to be People’s Republic of China nationals, they still cannot face the reality that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are currently ‘one country on each side.’”

There are reasons for this kind of contradictory mindset. It is only through Taiwan-centric history, education and culture that the nation is likely to achieve “salvation” from the fundamentals. Under this situation, one can see the necessity of instigating Taiwan subjectivity-oriented educational reform.