TAICHUNG (TVBS News) — Despite Taiwan's absence from the United Nations, local students are demonstrating a profound interest in global affairs. The Taichung Youth Model United Nations (TCYMUN) event, a two-day gathering in Taichung, witnessed over 300 students from across the island nation converging to debate pressing global issues like environmental and economic policies, national security, and human rights.
Fifteen-year-old Portia Jan, acting as a delegate for Japan, exemplified the level of preparation and strategic thinking involved. "I did some research on the topic we were doing, which is Russia and Ukraine and cyberspace. And then, I tried to think of what the people who don't agree with [Japan's] stances might say when I make my speech, and I deliver Japan's stances," she explained.
Daniel Lai, the co-chair of the Disarmament and International Security Committee, added as the youth are the future leaders of this country, he believes the event helps cultivate communication skills and teaches students to engage in international affairs.
The students from 38 schools were divided into five main committees, each tasked with representing a country and engaging in active listening and debate. The event, co-hosted by Tunghai University and the Taichung City Government, also featured international students from the university as "observers." These students played a vital role in reviewing the Taiwanese students' presentations and research.
Dlamini Siphesihle, an international student and TCYMUN observer, emphasized the importance of presentation skills. "The content is important, but if they have the confidence to voice out their opinions, I think that is pretty key," he noted.
Clara Nunn, another international observer from the United States, praised the event's educational value. "I think it's a great opportunity for the high schoolers to be able to gain confidence and speak English, and also, be able to learn more about these international issues," she said.
The TCYMUN demanded that participants present their reports and give presentations in English, a challenging yet vital skill for students and teachers. Joseph Huang, dean of the Office of Public Affairs and Alumni Service at Tunghai University, praised the students' enthusiasm and linguistic capabilities.
"We saw that the students signed up extremely fast for this event. Since our announcement, 38 schools and around 300 students have signed up. We also discovered that the students' English language skills were excellent, and compared with previous attendees, they showed more interest in international affairs," he observed.
Lin Tzu-li, associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Tunghai University, addressed the broader context of the event. "Taiwan has been left out of the UN for some time. However, with the pandemic and the wars, voices calling for Taiwan to rejoin these organizations have become more prominent, especially when global summits began to take note of growing cross-strait security issues," he stated.
Dr. Chang Kuo-en, president of Tunghai University, explained the logistics behind organizing such an event. "Organizing this event requires coordination with all the parties involved, especially with the city and all the high school students of our participating schools," he said.
Mayor Lu Shiow-yen of Taichung City emphasized the significance of such initiatives for youth development. "During my term in office, we've organized the Youth Model United Nations programs with the main purpose of providing young people from all over the country — not just Taichung City — who are interested in international affairs the opportunity to participate and learn," she stated.
The TCYMUN event underscored the eagerness of Taiwanese youth to connect their nation to the global community, regardless of Taiwan's official status in global organizations. Today's event was a testament to their readiness to engage with the world.