Mosaic Taiwan—Building the Soft Power of Friendship

Since 1940, the United States government has run an exchange program that has brought young foreign leaders to the US to meet with local youth, industrialists, academics, and government officials to share knowledge. This program, today known as the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), aims to plant the seeds of international friendship and cooperation.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Vanessa Shih (second left) accompanies a group of young international emerging leaders on a trip to experience Taipei’s “Blue Highway.”

Such exchange activities not only have the ability to inject new energy into the economies, education, cultures­, and arts of the partner countries, but also to provide opportunities for commercial cooperation across borders. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken America’s IVLP as a model in developing its own program, Mosaic Taiwan, hoping to foster open dialog and mutual understanding through direct interaction.

“US–ROC relations are at what could be considered their most friendly in over 30 years, and we hope to build this friendship further through taking this kind of positive power to the civil sector,” says Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Vanessa Shih. She explains that offering international youth with a passionate interest in Taiwanese society and culture opportunities to experience Taiwan, its culture, and its development first-hand will help foster even stronger friendship between the ROC and their countries.

The name chosen for the program, “Mosaic Taiwan,” speaks to the hope that by seeing all corners of Taiwan for themselves, these young scholars will be able to piece together a “mosaic” of this land, an image and impression all of their own.

This year’s schedule includes traveling from Ta­roko National Park to Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area, from Tai­tung’s Tie­hua Village to Yi­lan’s Bu­lau Bu­lau Village and ­Jiaoxi hot springs. The participants have been very vocal about their anticipation for seeing Taiwan’s natural beauty and how it is interwoven with the local culture.

“Formosa!” says long-time Asia-watcher and Mosaic participant Nicholas B. Frisch. “It’s such an evocative, beautiful name!” Frisch adds that closing his eyes, he can imagine soaring above Taiwan, her mountains towering above the Pacific. More than that, he has been surprised by the cosmopolitan cities and thriving economy in Taiwan.

Taiwan has also surprised with its diversity, existing alongside the traditional Chinese culture it has protected so well. The participants have had the opportunity to see how East and West have come to live harmoniously in Taiwan, visiting the National Palace Museum, the “Noah’s Ark Church” (Zhang­yuan Presbyterian Church in Chang­bin, Tai­tung), and the Jenn Lann Temple in Da­jia, Tai­chung.

These American youth met with Taiwanese political and business leaders, including President Ma Ying-jeou, former vice president Vincent Siew, and president of the Landis Hotels and Resorts Group Stanley Yen. They also joined a forum with young Taiwanese entrepreneurs, discussing everything from cross-strait relations, the global economy, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system, and even the recent Sunflower Movement.

In international relations, one of the primary considerations is usually the national interests of each party, as each pulls out all the stops in trying to get the maximum benefit for their own country. Away from the negotiating table, however, diplomacy tends to take the form of more intangible, invisible soft power, including the building of trust, understanding, and posi­tive relations.

Taiwan already has a stellar reputation among international travelers for its friendliness, with publications from Lonely Planet to The New York Times ranking Taiwan amongst the best tourist destinations in recent years.

Frisch himself feels Taiwan is amazing not only for its scenery, but even more so for its food culture, including his own personal favorites: mangoes, pepper cakes, and traditional breakfasts. Other foods, including shaved ice, xiao­long­bao, and pork rib rice are also on the “must-try” list for the participants.

Another bright spot often highlighted in international media in recent years is the convenient, widespread free Wi-Fi Internet access. No matter where in Taiwan the Mosaic fellows may go, from the seaside to the mountaintops they can readily and easily get online and share these spectacular moments with friends on the other side of the world.

After this year’s inaugural Mosaic Taiwan program is done and the fellows have all headed home, they will be sure to spread the word about Taiwan, which is the main goal of the entire exercise. Vice Minister Vanessa Shih says she hopes that “if this year goes well and we continue working on it next year, the friendship we create will snowball.”