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Updated Thursday, February 4, 2010 9:36 am TWN, The China Post news staff

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Taipei described as world's 'most underrated city'

Brouns'assertion that”people around the world may not have a clear impression of Taiwan”is something with which every Taiwanese person traveling abroad — from Tourism Bureau officials to students on exchange programs — can identify. Statements such as”I love Thai food”are routinely heard in response to citizens explaining that they are from Taiwan. The alternative “I am from the Republic of China” is similarly confused with the People's Republic of China, a situation not helped by the legions of patriotic Chinese students who commonly shout down Taiwanese classmates abroad, noisily asserting that “Taiwan is a part of China.”

Articles such as Brouns' can only help in this regard. The more the world discovers about Taiwan's uniqueness and, in particular, the more foreigners from countries with economic and political clout who personally visit Taiwan, the more secure Taiwan's position on the world stage will become.

That Serbia and ethnic Serbs throughout former Yugoslavia were prevented from establishing hegemony over Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia was largely a result of support from EC countries for those smaller states. And that was partly a consequence of the millions citizens of those countries who had shopped in the historic streets of Sarajevo, lain on a beach at Dubrovnik or skied down the slopes at Rogla.

One way in which Taiwan can safeguard itself against the possibility of military unification by China is to cultivate the hearts and minds of foreign tourists. Articles like the one in Knack Weekend that encourages visitors to shop in Taipei's and Tainan's back alleys, lie on the unspoiled beaches of Kenting and Penghu, or climb the awesome peaks of Yushan and Hsuehshan, will help endear the country to foreigners and give them a more balanced view of cross-strait relations and their governments'roles in East Asia.

So while many gains can be hoped for in the future, for the time being let us congratulate Taipei's current mayor, Hau Lung-bin, — as well as his predecessors as popularly elected mayors, Ma Ying-jeou and Chen Shui-bian, — and all city government employees for their collected efforts that have transformed Taiwan's capital into the place it is today. Let them enjoy their New Year break with pride, before returning to work refreshed with new plans to further improve the lives of their fellow citizens.

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Comments

February 4, 2010 vlamingenkomenniet55@

"The whole country can now expect a rush of Belgian and Dutch visitors over the coming year, as well as those of other nationalities, as Taipei's newfound reputation is being translated into English and spreading around the Internet"

Now, now... Knack sells just over 110.000 copies a week, with over 90% of this number sold in Flanders only. Respectable numbers, but an article is just that, an article. Try not to get carried away - and maybe don't give your readers false hope either?