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Updated Saturday, January 26, 2008 0:00 am TWN, By James Donald, Special to The China Post



	Photo courtesy of Australian Commerce and Industry Office ACIO Representative Steve Waters delivered a speech at the 2008 Australia Day Reception, highlighting Taiwan-Australia relations. More Photos (2)

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Australia and Taiwan, two peas in a global pod

This new system has recently aroused interest, mostly among the female population of Taiwan, to visit Australia and pick up short-term language courses while even making a bit of money on the side. The ACIO hopes to hold another public information session at Eslite Bookstore in Taipei, perhaps even holding another session in Kaohsiung, after last year's great success. The small venue was "inundated with queues trying to get in to learn about the visa opportunity," Waters laughed.

The Taipei event is expected to be held May 23, while the Kaohsiung event is slated for May 25.

When it comes to Australians traveling to Taiwan on the visa, however, there seems to have been less demand so far.

Waters reminisces about his own first trip to the island, saying that "during the 60s and 70s era, when people used to do 'the tour' of Asia, it was right up there on the list." However, Waters explains that over recent years Taiwan's profile has dropped, with possible reasons being that "it's not really on the way to anywhere," cost structures are reasonably high, and, particularly, there's a general lack of knowledge of what Taiwan has to offer.

"People who come for the first time always say to me: 'It's not like I thought it was,'" he adds.

In their own ways, Australia and Taiwan each proudly display their original characteristics, both being islands with large aboriginal populations. With the just-concluded Aussie federal elections and Taiwan's approaching next March, the two are all about change while remaining true blue at heart.

For Waters, who has seen what he describes as a dramatic change from the very oppressive regime under Chiang Kai-shek in the 1970s, during which "even the walls had ears," to today, Australia has maintained its stance as a country interested and enthusiastic about its engagement with Taiwan. With this in mind, Waters doesn't see the controversy of "diplomatic relations" as having any real bearing on the reality of a good relationship.

"As I tell almost everyone who asks me this question, though Australia may not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, our relationship is actually stronger than [with] some other countries where we have diplomatic relations."

The introduction of Australia's new prime minister, renowned for what Waters explains to be pragmatic politics and a good knowledge of Asia, should only mean that the country will be more personally engaged in Asia in the coming years.

As opposed to the more domestic focus of the previous ruling Howard government, "Kevin Rudd will have a more personal interest in pursuing relations in Asia," Waters speculates.

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