Taiwan Panorama Forum Reporters Abroad

45 Years in Images

Lee Shan Wei　/　photos Kent Chuang　/　tr. by Geof Aberhart

December 2020

中文日本語

(photo by Kent Chuang)

Over the 45 years since its founding, Taiwan Panorama has experienced many changes. Looking back, we see transformations in the landscape both physical and political, but what never changes is how Taiwan brims with warmth and humanity. From here we look out at the world, while also helping the world fall in love with our beautiful island.

A photo exhibition marking the 45th anniversary of Taiwan Panorama was held at the historic Red House at National Taipei University of Technology from October 6 to November 20, 2020. For six weeks, it presented a record in images and words of how Taiwan has evolved over the past half-century. On the exhibition’s opening day, NTUT also hosted a Taiwan Panorama Forum on overseas reporting, to which we invited retired diplomat Francias Lee, world-renowned photographer Shen Chao-liang, and author Tommy Lee to share their experiences and perspectives with the 1500-plus students in attendance at the NTUT auditorium. We also invited the students to ask questions, sparking cross-cultural reflections and inspiring confidence in how we can face the challenges of the future.

Images of history

The images captured by Taiwan Panorama form part of the photographic record of history. Speaking at the exhibition opening ceremony, Thomas Yang, vice president of NTUT, noted the historical significance of the exhibition, while Henry Chen, director-general of the Department of International Information Services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), recounted Taiwan Panorama’s origins in Taiwanese diplomatic efforts. The opening ceremony was also attended by Consul-General Joseph C.L. Ma of MOFA, Richard Chang, dean of student affairs at NTUT, and Wu Chien-wen, dean of NTUT’s Library and Information Services Office.

Next, Taiwan Panorama editor-in-chief Ivan Chen led attendees through the exhibition, explaining the evolution of the magazine from birth to present. He started with the cover of the August 1977 issue, which shows President Yen Chia-kan visiting the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia at the invitation of King Khalid. Moving on upstairs to the second floor, we see images covering the 50th Golden Horse Awards, the lifting of martial law, and environmental issues. There is also a reflection on Taiwan’s 1970s triple crown in Little League, Senior League, and Big League baseball, along with more recent reports from Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, and Vietnam, highlighting Taiwan Panorama’s big-picture perspective on the world.

Speaking at the start of the forum, Joseph Ma mentioned that Taiwan Panorama has been an important medium for Taiwanese soft power as well as a great resource for developing an international perspective and studying English. Ivan Chen then turned the focus to the forum guests—retired diplomat Francias Lee, Tommy Lee, author of the book Seeing Indonesia, and photographer Shen Chao-liang. They shared their experiences of working abroad and reporting across cultures, giving the 1500 people in attendance the opportunity to see the fruits of Taiwan’s diverse participation in the international community. Here we present some highlights of their contributions:

Shen Chao-liang:

Internalized vision, external tension

The brilliant colors of the photo series Stage capture the viewer’s attention in an instant. Shen Chao-liang uses the lens to clearly and precisely express different themes and concepts. When contrasted with the black-and-white images from Taiwanese Vaudeville Troupes, it presents a vivid portrayal of how Taiwan has changed over time.

The realistic images of Tsukiji Fish Market, taken in Tokyo’s former wholesale seafood market, create a dialog with his Reflections of Nan-fang-ao from Taiwan; though set in two different places, they both express the excitement of bringing in the catch. The evocative images are full of tension and one can almost smell the pungent air of the fish markets.

Yulan Magnolia Flowers, meanwhile, presents a distinctively Taiwanese industry chain with a fine division of labor. Flower sellers wander the streets, facing wind and sun for years with a tray and a few lotus leaves, a wet towel covering the delicate magnolias. The images quietly convey a social phenomenon with a downhome Taiwanese flavor.

Tommy Lee:

Seeing oneself in others

“We shouldn’t really approach things with stereotypes.” In the last posting of his diplomatic career, Tommy Lee dedicated his efforts to Indonesia. A quarter indigenous Taiwanese, Lee used his vacation time in Indonesia to indulge in a systematic island-hopping exploration of the country’s indigenous peoples. With a journalist’s eye and a respectful attitude, Lee, former head of the information division at the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia, opened a new door of friendship with the country in which he was stationed.

“Seeing Indonesia is a record of my memories that I put together after my retirement,” says Lee. It is also an exploration of the customs and cultures of various Austronesian-speaking peoples. With an open mind, he accepted this unfamiliar country and examined the similarities and differences between it and Taiwan. “I want Taiwanese people to understand Indonesia better.” Through in-depth journalistic investigation abroad, he has helped bring the beauty of a foreign country to his compatriots.

Francias Lee:

Building friendship with a sincere heart

“A sincere heart is the best means of building friendships.” Francias Lee is a retired diplomat who has been stationed all around the world and experienced many changes in the political landscape. The harsh realities of international diplomacy are something only those who have been through them can understand. “1971 was a watershed for ROC diplomatic relations.” That year, Taiwan left the United Nations, and the number of countries with which it had formal relations plummeted.

“Building friendships with other nations when you don’t have formal diplomatic relations is a real test of a diplomat’s skills.” In 1991, Lee had his first experience as Taiwan’s chief representative in a country; while stationed in Australia, he arranged several exchanges between ministers from both sides, greatly boosting bilateral trade relations.

“During my term, the Australia‡Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group grew to some 90 members.” At the same time, the Australia‡US and Australia‡UK groups had 102 and 84 members respectively. This prideworthy accomplishment happened in just two years, having started from scratch. “You can’t lose heart in tough situations.” Lee looks forward to Taiwan using the power of her people to keep winning respect on the global stage.

Cherished memories, future visions

The photographic exhibition and overseas reporting forum for Taiwan Panorama’s 45th anniversary aimed to broaden the horizons of the students in attendance, while also being a valuable reflection on the experiences of the participants. The beauty of Taiwan lies in its simple and natural character and its combination of East and West, old and new. Into the future, Taiwan Panorama will continue to look out at the world while keeping its feet planted in Taiwan, helping those who know Taiwan to love it more and those who don’t to learn about Taiwan through its pages.