The Taipei Times reported on Tuesday that the recent printing of “Taipei’s Olive Branches,” a pamphlet highlighting Taiwan’s offers of goodwill toward China, marks “the first time that a [Taiwan] government publication has been issued in simplified Chinese characters.”

I’d be a little surprised if this is so. After all, for several years Taiwan has had some official government Web sites available in simplified characters, such as that of the Office of the President.

Regardless, this certainly doesn’t mean that Taiwan is about to switch to simplified characters. Most people here in Taiwan regard them as uncultured and downright ugly. On the other hand, plenty of people in China would be happy to be able to hang their signs in traditional Chinese characters.

source: MAC [Mainland Affairs Council] offers olive branches to Chinese visitors