On October 25, reports from Taiwan’s “Central News Agency” highlighted a questioning session involving Kuomintang legislator Yeh Yuan-Chih and Taipei’s National Palace Museum. During the inquiry, Yeh pointed out that among the 1,626 textile exhibits, there is only one conservator available, raising concerns about whether there are sufficient professionals to handle the restoration needs.

Museum director Hsiao Tsung-Huang acknowledged Yeh’s concerns, admitting, “The museum’s restoration manpower is indeed insufficient,” despite initially arguing that the textiles had been displayed less frequently in the past, leading to their relatively stable condition. Under further questioning from Yeh, Hsiao conceded that there is a pressing need for more restoration personnel.

When asked about the recognized textile treasures within the museum, Hsiao notably admitted, “I’m not familiar with the famous textile national treasures.” This prompted Yeh to express disappointment at Hsiao’s apparent indifference, suggesting that such an attitude is regrettable given the significance of these artifacts.

In a subsequent Facebook post, Yeh emphasized the importance of the museum’s treasures as symbols of cultural heritage, questioning whether the current leadership truly values them. He highlighted the critical situation: with only one textile conservator, if that individual were to take leave or resign, the continuity of restoration efforts would be severely at risk.

Yeh expressed concern that Hsiao’s lackadaisical response during the inquiry indicated a broader disregard for the museum’s responsibilities, particularly in recognizing and caring for national treasures. He called for the museum to cultivate more talent to ensure these invaluable works receive the attention and care they deserve, lamenting that the present approach from the leadership seems to undermine the significance of the museum’s mission.