The past 15 years has seen the rise of the so-called "Chinese economic perspective." This popular concept involves looking at and interpreting Taiwan's economic issues as a part of the bigger Chinese economic structure. The main argument behind this is that China's rise is an inescapable fact, and if Taiwan does not take part in this greater Chinese entity, it will be sidelined in the global economic arena. Building a stable cross-strait relationship thus becomes essential to Taiwan's continued economic development. In other words, anything that hampers cross-strait economic exchanges must be eliminated and the creation of a cross-strait common market should be the ultimate goal.
The Chinese economic perspective was given full play during the meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Monday. During the talks Ma called on Chen to acknowledge the "1992 consensus" and uphold his "four noes and one without" inaugural pledge in the belief that doing so will open the door to cross-strait negotiations, promote direct links, and work to Taiwan's advantage. Ma even cited the recent suicide of a grandmother and her grandchild as an example of the Chen's administration's failure. Ma blamed the government for hindering the opening of direct links, causing businesses to move to China and giving rise to a high unemployment rate, a widening gap between the rich and the poor and rising credit-card debt.
Based on Ma's argument, by simply promoting direct links, opening the country to Chinese tourists and allowing local banks to invest in China, Taiwan would see increased foreign investment and experience an economic boost. Regardless of how high-handed and oppressive China is and the number of missiles aimed at Taiwan, the country's hope rests with China. Moreover, other than China, no market or nation can solve Taiwan's economic problems. This is the classic "Chinese economic perspective."
In an era where globalization is actively pursued, this perspective is clearly narrow-minded because it places China at the center of the world. Taiwan's economy is much freer than Japan's and South Korea's, but because the government bans direct links or restricts investment in China, it is accused of isolating the nation. The extent of such narrow-mindedness and China-centric thinking is shocking to say the least.
Reports of Ma's recent UK visit said he proudly claimed that the more than 70,000 Taiwanese businesses investing in China had created about 10 million job opportunities there. Clearly, China has become the focal point for Ma and he is not concerned with Taiwan's best interests or whether such actions have caused job losses in the country.
Perhaps Ma has been brain-washed by the "Greater China thinking" since his childhood. People that subscribe to the Chinese economic perspective have a far deeper love for China than for Taiwan. Even knowing that 90 percent of the country's foreign investment and 40 percent of its exports go to China, in addition to 79.5 percent of its IT hardware being manufactured across the Strait, these people still claim that Taiwan has not sufficiently deregulated its trade with China. Some even propose promoting "research and development in Taiwan, manufacturing in China." But how can Taiwan do
R&D without manufacturing as a foundation. If manufacturing is based in China, the Chinese Communist Party will also demand that R&D take place there. How will Taiwan-based businesses then succeed? We understand the pan-blue camp's biased thinking because their goal is eventual unification with China. And that is the Taiwanese tragedy.
Huang Tien-lin is a national policy adviser to the president.
Translated by Lin Ya-ti
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