A bilingual Taiwan by 2030: Is it possible?

The Taiwanese government has big plans to make Taiwan bilingual in 10 years. PHOTO: REUTERS
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

The Taiwanese government has big plans to make Taiwan bilingual in 10 years, but the project to raise English proficiency has drawn flak for being too ambitious, and has sparked concerns that it will dilute attention on the island's indigenous languages.

"Bilingual by 2030" aims to help the younger generation connect with the international community by learning to speak fluently in English and thus promoting Taiwanese values.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 31, 2020, with the headline A bilingual Taiwan by 2030: Is it possible?. Subscribe