From the time I was 15 until I was 26, I studied amidst the cultural riches of Western Europe. I was able to see at first hand how these nations treasured their cultural assets and managed to integrate them into modern life. After visiting many famed World Heritage Sites in many nations, I became more and more convinced that Taiwan's natural treasures and cultural assets were up to the standard of World Heritage Sites. That being the case, the question became: "Why not get them designated as such?"

Who can have World Heritage Sites?

Many people note that we are not a member of the United Nations and therefore do not have the standing to ask that our sites be listed. But World Heritage Sites are rightfully the collective inheritance of the human race, regardless of where they happen to be located. If they meet the criteria for World Heritage Sites, then they should be designated as such. As members of the global village, we need to protect these precious assets and pass them on to future generations.

In addition, very advanced conservation ideas are applied to World Heritage Sites. It would be a great shame if political considerations prevented the Taiwanese public from coming to an understanding of the conservation concepts used to protect these sites. Therefore, in the two years since I took office, I have been considering the problem of how to bring the World Heritage Site designation to Taiwan's heritage sites.

First, I realized we hadn't done the preparatory work, including the introductions to the heritage sites and the preservation work. An important precondition to applying for the World Heritage Site designation is that one's own country must have exhibited a strong interest in the site and have the ability to implement conservation measures.

So beginning this year, with the help of scholars, city and county government officials and people working in the cultural arena, we have selected 11 potential sites, both scenic and cultural, from 88 proposed sites. In November, we will arrange for five international scholars with the World Heritage Committee to examine these 11 sites. We will then select the three locations with the greatest potential and put our heads together to create a model that people can follow.

Our preparations also include using all available channels to make people both at home and abroad aware of Taiwan's World Heritage Site plans, urging friends from around the world to take an interest in these sites, and actively participating in international events and conferences related to the World Heritage Convention.

Bringing friends from afar

Taiwan has already invited members of the Japanese media with an interest in World Heritage Sites to Taiwan to visit and photograph Taiwan's potential sites, and invited scholars and residents from Shirakawa Village, a Japanese World Heritage Site, to Taiwan to share their experience in getting listed and discuss problems that that listing has created.

In August, we will send a team to a training camp being held at a school in Thailand to learn how to report on and promote World Heritage Sites, and to exchange ideas with people from around the world who work in the cultural arena. Later, we will send a team to mainland China to visit and learn what they can from the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun in Anhui, and Lijiang in Yunnan, which are also World Heritage Sites.

I'm very anxious to get World Heritage Site status for locations in Taiwan as soon as possible. Last year, we had people vote on 100 local historical sites, and within the last six months, four-Hukou's Old Street, Hualien's Mt. Lintien, Taipei's Tataocheng Church and Chiayi's tax office-have been lost. The 11 potential locations we have identified are facing their own problems. Every time I visit them, I feel such a need to hurry the process along that it brings tears to my eyes. But we are always held up by the fact that the CCA is not the agency responsible for these sites; we can't legally intervene on their behalf. We really can't wait any longer for legislation consolidating control over cultural affairs.

Cultural work is a one-step-at-a-time kind of thing; you may feel a sense of urgency, but there's no rushing it. We expect that this effort to get World Heritage Site status for locations in Taiwan will take at least five years. Two years ago, when I first proposed this World Heritage Site idea, many people thought I was being totally unrealistic. Now, more and more people are working with me, and I'm receiving a lot of support and encouragement. After all, concern for world heritage transcends race or nationality. I feel we shouldn't place limits on ourselves or assume that we can't do this or that. If we are bold and have confidence in ourselves, people will support us.

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Tchen Yu-chiou, chairwoman of the Council for Cultural Affairs, has been working hard to see Taiwanese sites added to the World Heritage List. (photo by Pu Hua-chih)