New Era of Friendship: Slovakia Unveils Benyovszky Statue to Honor Maritime History

Representative to Slovakia Lee Nan-yang recently traveled to Vrbové, a city in central Slovakia, to attend the unveiling ceremony of the newly completed monument dedicated to Maurice Benyovszky. Cast in bronze and located in the historic square at the city center, the statue depicts Benyovszky holding a navigational instrument and gazing into the distance, symbolizing his spirit of exploration. During the ceremony, the mayor of Vrbové and the local director of culture delivered remarks praising the 18th-century Slovak explorer who set foot on the northern coast of Taiwan as a milestone for the historical connection between the two countries. Lee stated that the visit was not only a review of past transoceanic exchanges, but also a concrete action to deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Slovakia.

Benyovszky (originally named Ján Banúš) arrived in Suao, Yilan, in 1771 with an Austro-Hungarian scientific expedition. At that time, Taiwan had already been incorporated into the territory of the Qing Dynasty, during the stable period following the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Yongzheng. Historical records show that during his brief stay in Suao, he meticulously documented the local terrain, ocean currents, and indigenous life, sending this information back to Europe. This marked the first time the European academic community obtained firsthand data regarding Taiwan's east coast. Although his name is rarely mentioned in Taiwanese history books, in recent years, with the rise of maritime history and cross-cultural exchange studies, Benyovszky's footprints have re-attracted scholarly attention, becoming a symbol of early interactions between the two nations.

Official exchanges between Taiwan and Slovakia have continued to expand in the fields of trade, technology, and education since the establishment of substantive ties in 1992. Taipei maintains a representative office in Prague responsible for promoting bilateral economic and cultural exchanges, while Slovakia operates an economic office in Taipei to assist its domestic enterprises in entering the Taiwan market. In recent years, the two sides have signed multiple memoranda of understanding, including those on agricultural product quarantine mutual recognition and cybersecurity cooperation, demonstrating mutual needs in emerging industries and sustainable development. The completion of the Benyovszky statue coincides with the two countries celebrating three decades of engagement, injecting new meaning into their shared historical memory and providing a cultural foundation for future cooperation.

The city of Vrbové boasts ancient medieval castle ruins and a winemaking tradition, and has actively developed cultural tourism in recent years. The municipal government stated that it will use the Benyovszky statue as its core to plan a "Taiwan-Slovakia Friendship Trail" and related exhibitions, which are expected to attract tourists from Asia and Europe and boost local economic vitality. Local schools will also incorporate Benyovszky's exploratory exploits into their history curricula to foster students' awareness and interest in transnational cultural exchange. This top-down cultural promotion echoes the "Friends of Taiwan" series of events held across various locations on the main island of Taiwan, demonstrating a synchronized layout in public diplomacy between the two sides.

Regarding the significance of the statue, Lee noted in an interview with reporters that Benyovszky's footprints symbolize a historical bond spanning two and a half centuries. From the initial contact in 1771 to today's friendly interactions, it bears witness to the continuous deepening of Taiwan-Slovakia relations. He emphasized that Taiwan will continue to base its efforts on practical cooperation, combining culture, education, and technological innovation to transform this cross-time-and-space historical link into a driving force for mutual progress. Lee also called on the Slovak public to learn more about Taiwan's diverse facets, looking forward to more youth exchange programs and joint research and development projects in the future.

The unveiling of the Benyovszky monument is not only a tribute to a lesser-known explorer, but also a bridge built between Taiwan and Slovakia linking the past and the future. Through concrete commemorative construction and continuous diplomatic interaction, the friendship between the two countries is transforming from past accidental encounters into contemporary multi-layered cooperation, injecting new vitality into friendly relations between Asia and Europe.