As a result, Ma has failed to fulfill his campaign promises of 6 percent economic growth, an unemployment rate of less than 3 percent and a per capita income of US$30,000, along with a promise that the TAIEX would climb above 20,000 points.
Instead, employees are being forced to take leave with no pay and are facing pay cuts and layoffs. Their future looks dim.
With regard to the hardships faced by ordinary people, Ma says he feels their pain, but it seems he has no intention of righting his misguided policies.
He has not changed his strategy of encouraging industries to relocate to China. Encouraging them to return to Taiwan would promote domestic investment and create jobs. But Ma and his Cabinet propose measures such as consumer vouchers, tax cuts and various subsidies that create an illusion of prosperity based on “saving the economy through consumption.”
On the other hand, Ma is looking across the Taiwan Strait, hoping China will grant some favors to boost the economy. Under such circumstances, he would not dare offend Beijing by allowing the Dalai Lama to visit.
Ma has catered to China in almost every way — from belittling the nation’s sovereignty to suppressing protests against Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin (陳雲林).
Taking Beijing as his master, Ma is acting like the chief executive of a Chinese special administrative region, or the puppet king of a vassal state.
Taiwan has won much praise for its successful democratization over the past two decades. In the past six months, however, judicial and human rights and freedom of speech, assembly and protest have regressed, arousing concern from international human rights groups.
Ma has ruled out a visit from the Dalai Lama. This may give people in other countries the impression that Taiwan has downgraded itself to a part of authoritarian China.
The legislature, as the highest representative body, should give the situation serious attention.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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