Vancouver Honors Taiwanese School Teachers, Canadian Lawmaker Calls for UN Inclusion

On this year's Teachers' Day (September 28), the Association of Chinese Language and Culture Education Schools in Western Canada hosted a teacher appreciation tea party, specifically honoring Taiwanese overseas Chinese school teachers who play a crucial role in the global overseas Chinese education system. The event was not only a recognition of the teachers' hard work, but also symbolized the continued expansion of Taiwan's influence in the field of overseas Chinese language education. For years, Taiwan's teacher training and textbook compilation have served as vital resource sources for overseas Chinese schools. Many of these schools rely on Taiwan's textbooks and teaching methods for their instructional content and curriculum design, and this commendation serves as a concrete acknowledgement of this long-term cooperation.

Coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly session in New York, members of Parliament from Canada's two major political parties attended the tea party. In their remarks, they praised Taiwan's cultural and educational strength, noting that Taiwan's achievements in technological innovation, public health, and civic literacy have gained high international recognition. The MPs specifically mentioned that Taiwan's educational system not only fosters youth equipped with critical thinking and global perspectives, but also plays a leadership role in driving forward-looking industries such as digital transformation and green energy, all of which provide valuable reference models for global public issues.

On the diplomatic front, the two MPs simultaneously expressed support for Taiwan's "meaningful participation" in the United Nations. Since the UN handed the Chinese seat to Beijing in 1971, Taiwan has been excluded from the UN system, participating in only certain international meetings as an observer or in an unofficial capacity. In recent years, as Taiwan's performance in disease prevention, technology, and human rights has won international recognition, legislators from an increasing number of countries have begun calling on the UN to re-examine Taiwan's eligibility for participation. The statements made by the Canadian MPs reflect the sympathy and support of Western countries for Taiwan on issues of democracy and human rights, and also demonstrate their political willingness to speak up for Taiwan on the international stage.

Relations between Canada and Taiwan have shown a trend of multi-layered deepening in recent years. Although the two countries lack official diplomatic ties, cooperation in trade, technology R&D, and cultural exchanges is growing increasingly close. Following the passage of the Taiwan-Canada relations legislation in 2022, the Canadian government's policy toward Taiwan has become clearer, and it continues to strive for Taiwan's participation space in international organizations. The remarks made by the MPs at this tea party are a concrete manifestation of this policy direction and may lay a more solid political foundation for speaking up for Taiwan in multilateral arenas in the future.

For Taiwan, receiving positive evaluation and support from the Canadian political circles holds both symbolic and practical significance. Symbolically, it proves that Taiwan's achievements in education and technology have transcended borders and won widespread recognition from the international community. Practically, such solidarity helps elevate Taiwan's visibility within international organizations and secures more diplomatic leverage for potential future observer or membership status. More importantly, through the instructional networks of overseas Chinese schools, Taiwan's values and knowledge resources are able to be disseminated globally, further consolidating its international image of "soft power."

In summary, the teacher appreciation tea party hosted by the Association of Chinese Language and Culture Education Schools in Western Canada was not merely a gratitude ceremony for teachers, but also a microcosm of Taiwan's cultural and educational strength gaining recognition on the international stage. The explicit praise from MPs of Canada's two major political parties regarding Taiwan's technology and civic literacy, alongside their clear stance supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations, not only highlights Taiwan's leading position in global education and technology, but also provides new political momentum for its international participation. In the future, by continuing to combine overseas Chinese educational resources with international diplomatic efforts, Taiwan's voice and influence in the international community are expected to be further enhanced. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)