Having an anti-business complex is the DPP's original sin and stability is President-elect Chen Shui-bian's
On the morning of May 6, Chen called on Tsai Wan-tsai
Chen did the conglomerate a big favor by paying a visit on such a significant day. In return, the Fubon Group had Chen's portrait printed on a large-sized bank note and sent it to him. Tsai praised the national policies proposed by Chen as "far-sighted," adding that he believed they were going to lead the country to a bright future.
The visit received a great deal of media attention and both the host and guest were pleased with the results. Nevertheless, relations so far between Chen and business leaders remain at the lip service stage. No one can yet tell whether the relationship will develop to the point where corporate wallets are opened and financial donations become an issue, and it is too early to talk about the possibility.
Chen mentioned the "three direct links" (三通) issue during his meeting with Wang Yung-ching (王永慶), the Formosa Group (台塑) chairman, and Evergreen Group (長榮) chairman Chang Rong-fa (張榮發).
When he met the chairman of the Ruentex Group
When Chen went to I-Mei Foods
Chen said honeyed words to these businessmen, just as he did to former KMT political heavyweights. He said former prime minister Sun Yun-suan
For the past half century, the national government has been mixed with the KMT's system, turning politicians and businessmen into a family. The ruling KMT answered the industrialists' desires for wealth and power. It even gave them a hand when their businesses were in trouble.
However, compared with Chen's public lip service, the KMT carried out its collusion with businessmen on the sly. When it came to this relationship, as we all know, illegal business activities could be legalized right on the spot, and businessmen found guilty could receive suspended sentences. When businessmen were short of money, the party could make money flow into their accounts. When companies lost their credibility, the party could help them restore it. In earlier times, business magnates even offered politicians money, cars and stocks, while the politicians gave them privileges in return.
As the KMT and national government became indistinguishable, too many extra-legal things occurred year after year, until they became something that could not face the light of day. The more secrets accumulated, the more the two sides needed to hide their ties. If they walked side-by-side, hand-in-hand, it just gave gossips the chance to talk.
Chen has a blank slate in front of him and can create a new standard for the relationship between government and businesses.
Chen needs to befriend industrialists in order to have them help him set the stage for a new"stability and prosperity" play, as well as perform in that play.
For the magnates, the old theater management -- ?the KMT -- has left the stage and a new troupe of actors is waiting in the wings. There doesn't appear to be a good reason not to join the new play. That is why the two sides are busy blowing kisses at one another on the eve of the presidential inauguration.
However, Taiwan is just now emerging from a nightmare caused by the collusion between politicians and businessmen. What we are afraid of is that once the new power machine gets down to work, the new government, pressured by the need to finance future campaigns and power struggles, will find it difficult to remain aloof. If Chen can keep relations at the lip service stage, then all will be well. If his government ends up colluding with the big business, it will only end up drowning in its sins like its predecessor.
Chen Ro-jinn is a freelance writer.
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