The appreciation of President Tsai Ing-wen towards Catholic missionaries and nuns for their contribution to the development of the island. The differences with the People's Republic of China, where since the days of Mao the missionaries are considered "an instrument of imperialism".
Taipei (AsiaNews) - Foreign missionaries working on the island will be able to ask for Taiwanese nationality without renouncing their original one. This was stated by President Tsai Ing-wen at a meeting with some elderly Catholic missionaries. Tsai pointed out that this is possible because the government has amended the rules on citizenship, favoring foreigners who have made some contribution to the nation.
The president said that Catholic priests and nuns have made a major contribution to the Taiwanese society in the fields of health, education and other social services, in caring for women, the elderly and those affected by physical or mental disabilities.
Many foreign missionaries - Tsai explained - came to the island when its development was still embryonic. Now - she concluded - it is time for Taiwan to repay them for their decades of service.
Taiwan, considered by Beijing as the "rebel island" that must be brought back to the motherland by force, has long maintained a positive look at Catholic missions, unlike what happens in popular China. In addition to the fact that the island enjoys ample religious freedom, while religions are controlled on the continent, in recent years there has been an increased control of NGOs and missionaries present in China, a pretext - some say - "to send us away". Since the time of Mao Zedong, the missionaries have been seen as an "instrument of imperialism" and foreign colonization.