Overseas Chinese Affairs Must Step into the World to Lead Taiwan to the World
“Overseas Chinese affairs must step into the world in order to lead Taiwan to the world.” Principal Li Meiru of Pumona Chinese School expressed in an interview with Epoch Times that after long-term engagement in overseas Chinese education, she deeply feels that the networks, trust, and international connections accumulated by overseas compatriots and the next generation are important forces for Taiwan to move towards the world. She called on the Legislative Yuan to follow the consensus of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which supports Taiwan’s accession to the United Nations.
Li Meiru believes that Taiwan’s international situation is unique. In addition to diplomatic personnel promoting diplomatic work on the front lines, overseas compatriots dispersed around the world have long been establishing relationships with local governments, schools, communities, and various sectors. These relationships are not established through one-time visits but are gradually accumulated over a decade, two decades, or even several generations.
“When Taiwan needs the world’s understanding, international friendship, and someone to speak up for Taiwan, these long-accumulated forces in the overseas Chinese community are Taiwan’s very important civil diplomatic force,” she said.
As an education worker deeply committed to overseas Chinese education, Li Meiru believes that the impact of overseas Chinese affairs cannot be measured solely by the number of visits or financial resources, but rather by whether the resources invested by the government are truly implemented on the front lines overseas and whether connections with overseas future generations are continuously being built.
She mentioned that as of 2026, the Overseas Community Affairs Council has assisted in establishing 93 Taiwan Chinese Language Learning Centers (TCML) globally, with 64 in the United States, allowing traditional Chinese characters and multiculturalism to further enter overseas society.
Traditional overseas Chinese schools are also an important foundation for overseas Chinese education. She introduced that the Overseas Community Affairs Council has long provided teaching materials, teacher training, and teaching resources, with over 3,000 people participating in overseas Chinese language teacher and Chinese school operation and management training in 2025.
“Chinese education is not just about teaching Chinese, but more importantly, it’s about connecting with the next generation,” Li Meiru said.
She enumerated that programs such as overseas youth English service camps, FASCA overseas youth cultural ambassadors, and the “Taiwan Youth Overseas Exchange Plan” connect overseas future generations with Taiwan through education, culture, and youth exchanges, allowing Taiwanese youth to enter overseas Chinese communities. She believed that the ultimate outcome of these efforts is not just language and cultural heritage but also a trust network that spans generations and countries.
Regarding society’s oversight of overseas Chinese affairs work, Li Meiru stated that a democratic society naturally requires oversight, and the overseas Chinese community also supports oversight. However, oversight should be based on complete facts and a practical understanding of overseas Chinese affairs work.
Drawing on her own experience of interacting with the Chairperson of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, Hsu Chia-ching, Li Meiru expressed that when Hsu Chia-ching visits overseas, she listens to the needs of overseas compatriots, supports and encourages good work, and also criticizes and requests review of shortcomings.
Li Meiru believes that cherishing taxpayers’ money does not mean “doing nothing,” but rather that every public resource should undergo scrutiny and produce genuine and long-term value.
She also admitted that some outcomes of overseas Chinese affairs work are challenging to quantify. “When we are in a foreign land, watching the flag of the Republic of China slowly rise and hearing the national anthem playing, sometimes tears well up,” Li Meiru said.
For overseas compatriots, the flag represents their homeland, shared memories, and an emotional connection that never breaks with Taiwan. One of the important meanings of overseas Chinese affairs work is to maintain connections and keep successive generations of overseas Chinese closely linked to Taiwan.
Li Meiru stated that Taiwan’s long-term restrictions on international participation highlight the importance of the overseas Chinese community continually advocating for Taiwan in the international community. She believed that the civil diplomatic network accumulated by the overseas Chinese community over the years can become an important foundation for Taiwan to seek international understanding and support.
She called on Taiwanese society and the overseas Chinese community to continue paying attention to Taiwan’s international participation issues and urged the Legislative Yuan to follow the consensus of democratic countries on United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and support Taiwan’s accession to the United Nations.
“Overseas Chinese affairs are not about just sitting in Taiwan and watching the world,” Li Meiru said. Only by stepping into the world can Taiwan be led to the world; and overseas compatriots scattered around the world, generation after generation with their hearts tied to Taiwan, are one of Taiwan’s most precious forces in moving towards the world.