Plan to alter textbooks slammed

A spokesman from the Chinese mainland has criticized Taiwan authorities for attempting to distort history in textbooks.

Taiwan's history is an organic component of the history of China, but "Taiwan independence" forces are trying to inject their historical view of independence into the younger generation, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a biweekly news briefing on Wednesday.

Ma made the remarks when he was asked to comment on a recent draft by the Taiwan education authority that plans to rewrite its history curriculum to include Chinese history in the chapter on East Asian history.

After the revision, the textbooks will be composed of three parts: the history of Taiwan, East Asia and the World.

"'Taiwan independence' forces have intensified their efforts of de-Sinicizing activities in education, trying to force their historical stance on the younger generation and erase the sense of Chinese identity among Taiwan residents," Ma said.

"The activities have aroused strong indignation from people in Taiwan and the retrograde move is destined to fail," he added.

Concerns about the change were raised more than a decade ago when the Taiwan education authority ordered high schools in around 2004 to revise their textbooks to create a separate book for Taiwan history.

Taiwan's Central News Agency on Wednesday quoted Hung Hsiu-chu, chairwoman of the Taiwan-based Kuomintang, as saying the changes in the textbooks show attempts to lead Taiwan society toward independence.

Ma also said that Taiwan's current Democratic Progressive Party administration had "lifted a rock only to drop it on its own feet", in reference to the decreasing number of trips made by mainland residents to Taiwan.

Ma made the remarks in response to concerns that some mainland residents are subject to travel restrictions by the administration.

Ma stressed that exchanges and cooperation had been the common wishes of cross-Straits compatriots since 30 years ago.

"For many years, we have been committed to promoting cross-Straits personnel exchanges, boosting exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and taking pragmatic measures to improve the well-being of people across the Straits," Ma said.

Since May 20 last year, however, the DPP administration has undermined the political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, while supporting "Taiwan independence" activities, Ma said.

It has also impeded cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, and fanned public grievances, Ma added.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

zhang_yi@chinadaily.com.cn