It should offer tax and land benefits to companies that remain in Taiwan and hire local labor, and develop policies aimed at nursing industry in general, not just those that meet temporary political needs.
The high-tech industry has enjoyed tax deductions and exemptions — but it has still moved much of its operations to China. Meanwhile, traditional industries that provide most of the nation’s jobs must take on an extra tax burden. Future policy aimed at helping industry should make Taiwan’s interests its first priority rather than focus on a selected few.
Businesses that create jobs should receive benefits. Most important, the goal should be to create a complete industrial chain in which neither up, mid or downstream companies will find it advantageous to move overseas. This is the only way to create a cluster effect that strengthens competitiveness.
The fact is that when it comes to revitalizing Taiwan’s economy, the public can exert influence on which government policies are put in place. What it cannot do is dictate the vitality of global economic development. In this context, the Taiwanese and Chinese economies are competitors, not partners.
Pinning Taiwan’s hopes of economic development on China is a mistake. Cross-strait policies built on this poorly developed idea will only put Taiwan on the road to oblivion.
The members of the new Cabinet are clearly tools for the implementation of Ma’s unification policy.
With these people at the helm, it will be impossible to come up with a new strategy to find a way out for the economy. Such a government is unworthy of the hopes and expectations of the nation’s voters.
TRANSLATED BY PERRY SVENSSON
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