Although Chinese Taipei has adopted lifelong learning as an educational goal, adult literacy education programs have not been based on their tenets. Lifelong learning is a deliberate process that emphasizes the autonomy of learners and a breadth of learning throughout the life span. The two adult literacy programs in Chinese Taipei, Supplementary Education Program (SEP) and Adult Basic Education Program (ABEP), focus on listening, speaking, reading, writing, and numeracy abilities and are offered by elementary teachers in elementary schools. Rather than incorporate elements of lifelong learning, however, these programs are static, conservative, narrowly applied, and isolated. They tend to focus on basic speaking, reading, and writing skills and only superficially address practical issues related to functional literacy. In addition, the notion of literacy for empowerment is completely absent, with practitioners still counting the number of words that students should learn as the criteria for literacy education. To realize the potential for adult literacy training and provide a supportive platform for lifelong learning opportunities, Chinese Taipei should expand the role of ABEP, improve the flexibility of SEP, encourage other institutions to provide literacy training, and improve teacher training programs. Contains 32 references. (BCY)