Mainland Affairs Council: Asks Taipei City Education Bureau to Re-examine Kindergarten Teaching CCP Anniversary Song

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 18) Regarding the matter of a Taipei City kindergarten teaching Chinese Communist Party anniversary songs, the Taipei City Education Bureau stated it was a misunderstanding. Liang Wen-chieh, deputy minister and spokesperson for the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), said today that the Taipei City Education Bureau should re-examine the matter, as regardless of which version of the song "Light Up the Future" it is, it was created to celebrate the CCP's anniversary.

Some netizens claimed that their children's kindergarten was teaching a song commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. The Taipei City Education Bureau stated previously that after receiving a complaint transferred from the National Academy of Educational Research in May, it immediately clarified the facts according to procedure. It was confirmed that this kindergarten did select "Light Up the Future" sung by Li Xinrong as its graduation song. However, the CCP anniversary song is "Light Up the Future" sung by Gong Jun and others. These two songs differ in lyrics, composer, and singer, thus the case was deemed a "misunderstanding complaint."

Liang Wen-chieh said at a regular press conference today that the MAC received a public complaint stating that a kindergarten was teaching this song at its graduation ceremony. According to the information provided by the complainant, this song was sung by Li Xinrong in 2021. A search on Baidu Baike clearly states that "Light Up the Future" was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, aiming to let listeners understand that the CCP is like an unextinguishable lighthouse.

Liang Wen-chieh said that the MAC handed the matter over to the Ministry of Education and the Taipei City Government for investigation, and the Taipei City Government concluded that it was a false report. However, in fact, although these two songs have different lyrics, different creators, and different singers, they share the same title and were both created to celebrate the CCP's centenary.

Liang Wen-chieh stated that the Taipei City Government should be reminded that regardless of which version of "Light Up the Future" it is, it is a song that glorifies the CCP. He reiterated that without someone pointing it out, frontline teachers would not know the meaning behind these songs. "If someone reports it, then mistakes should be corrected. It's that simple, there's no need for debate." He hopes the Taipei City Education Bureau will re-examine the matter, as regardless of the version, it is not suitable for young children in Taiwanese kindergartens to sing. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu) 1150618

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