Except for the theocracies the rest of the world takes delight in ridiculing, most modern governments build their legitimacy and credibility by proposing policies that we assume are the result of detailed analysis and clear-headed decision-making. Public relations specialists advise world leaders to adopt a calm, cool and composed image when they appear in public — especially in times of crisis.
So there is reason to worry when, facing growing public discontent with the state of the economy and a freefalling TAIEX — which again shed 10 percent last week — the only thing officials from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) administration have come up with are calls for the population to have “faith” in the government and, on Friday, the promise that the Cabinet would enact “miracle cures” to revive the stock market.
Faith and miracles are language used by theocrats in flowing robes or the hapless who see no way out of a predicament and suddenly feel an urge to place their fate in the hands of a higher being.
Panic-inducing though the current economic woes might seem, the end of the world is not upon us. There are ways out — but religion, or belief in the fantastic, isn’t one of them. What is needed is professionalism and cool-headedness, as well as policies that are clear, measurable and grounded in reality.
At this critical moment, President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) economists and Cabinet members should know better than to use rhetoric that is prone to generate panic in investors. Ironically, by adopting language with religious undertones, panic is just what they could sow.
Economists tell us that the last thing a bourse wants in times of financial stress is market panic. Calm is in order, and financiers must maintain the impression — even if it is illusory — that they have things under control. Again, religious terminology and vague promises are not part of that arsenal.
Taiwanese investors are not fools. Despite comments by the Cabinet last week that investors alone are responsible for their investments and possible losses, the KMT government must bear in mind that many investors went on the stock market specifically because they believed the KMT’s promise that the nation’s economy would receive a “miraculous” boost if Ma was elected. Now that this promise has failed to materialize, investors who were burned will not make the same mistake again and their faith in the KMT’s power to bring about “miracles” will be far from the type that moves mountains.
The government should admit it overshot during the presidential campaign and that, while acknowledging that the state of the global economy is beyond its control, it is prepared to reassure investors and mitigate their pain. Promises of “miracle” cures serve no purpose, are insulting to our intelligence and could encourage fears that no one — except, perhaps, a long-bearded man sitting on a cloud somewhere, who couldn’t care less about stocks and bullish markets — is in charge.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers led by the party’s legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) are to visit Beijing for four days this week, but some have questioned the timing and purpose of the visit, which demonstrates the KMT caucus’ increasing arrogance. Fu on Wednesday last week confirmed that following an invitation by Beijing, he would lead a group of lawmakers to China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss tourism and agricultural exports, but he refused to say whether they would meet with Chinese officials. That the visit is taking place during the legislative session and in the aftermath