#neidi

So Two days ago we popped into a Panasonic shop on the way home to buy a bread machine and whilst chatting about where it was assembled (China), the owner of the store used the word neidi (means 'inland' (內地) to refer to China. EVA and I almost walked out of the shop in disgust. For those who might be confused as to why we had such a reaction, this snippet from the Taipei Times might help explain why:

The Taipei City Government yesterday removed an advertisement at MRT stations after its content, which referred to China as “inland (內地),” drew public criticism that it showed a lack of national dignity because the term is traditionally used by a colony to refer to its mother country.

Whilst this is not entirely a surprise coming from a shop owner in the traditional KMT stronghold of Neihu, it is still both disappointing and worrisome. Most Taiwanese use the word dalu 大陸, which means mainland, out of a mix of historical habit and partially owing to indoctrination. So there is no need to use the term '內地'.