Intense campaigning is under way for next year’s presidential election. What kind of qualities and what type of leadership will best serve the nation?
Perhaps former US president Ronald Reagan and Chi Mei Group founder Shi Wen-long (許文龍) are good examples. Although the leader of a big nation and the head of a big corporation are not entirely comparable, their leadership styles were quite similar.
People have long been drawing analogies between running a free, democratic society and managing a big enterprise, which makes a lot of sense.
During the eight years of his presidency, Reagan was seen as someone who took things easy. He ran the country with a good sense of humor: In serious or even tense situations, he could apply just enough humor to lighten things up.
For example, when Reagan was campaigning for re-election in 1984, he was criticized over his old age by his opponents and the public, to which he responded by saying: “I will not make age an issue in this campaign. I will not exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”
Skillfully, he went on the offensive from the defensive.
In the 1980s, when Reagan was in office, Japan was on its way to become the best electronics manufacturer in the world. It was a depressing time for Americans, as Japanese said that they were buying up the US, which was perceived as standing on the verge of becoming a second-class nation. Morale was low and the nation was exhausted.
However, Reagan was optimistic and confident. By embracing the free-market economy, his government gave the private sector sufficient freedom to administer itself. Knowing his staff well enough to put them in the best positions possible and empowering them adequately, Reagan achieved what Chinese sage Lao Tzu (老子) said about “Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish; do not overdo it.”
Judging by one of his famous quotes — “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem” — it is evident that Reagan fully understood the role of government. He also had the resolution to fight communism, safeguard freedom and democracy, and combat evil, which is why his legacy is still being recognized by later generations.
Hsu, a Taiwanese legend who built the Chi Mei enterprise, is renowned for working only one day per week and not having a personal office.
Hsu despises management to the extent that he wants to exterminate it. He sets an example when it comes to respecting and sympathizing with people. He also shares the fruits of the company’s endeavors with his entire staff, which gives them the motivation to fulfill their duties while working closely with one another. Hence, Hsu has employees who are loyal, responsible and display a high work ethic.
Hsu is a practitioner of “achieving through non-action,” the wisdom of Lao Tzu and Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi (莊子). He can peacefully embrace any form of failure. He also understands the value of not standing up in haste after falling down, for there might be something valuable to pick up, which is a more advanced understanding of the saying “failure is the mother of success.”
Hsu knows life, enjoys it and learns from daily experiences. According to Hsu, everyone is his teacher, which is a summary of the sayings “a fool’s bolt might sometimes hit the mark” and “there is always something to learn from anyone, however foolish that person may be.”
It is no wonder that Hsu’s life is full of surprises and fun. He is a firm believer in the idea that “the capable should let the incapable take the advantage, large shareholders should let small shareholders take the advantage, the haves should let the have-nots take the advantage; that is how world peace can be achieved.”
In his memoir, From Zero to Infinity — Hsu Wen-lung’s Principle of Happiness, Hsu shares his philosophy for running a nation, managing a business and living a fulfilling life. Taiwanese who aspire to become leaders, and especially those who are running for the presidency, should read it carefully, be inspired by it and put it into practice. If they can do that, Taiwanese will be fortunate to have them as leaders.
Both Reagan and Hsu apply Lao Tzu and Zhuangzi’s “easy does it” philosophy to run a nation and a business, respectively; both are practitioners of a free market.
Their success proves that a real, genuine free market is a highly functional system that improves the well-being of the entire world.
Wu Hui-lin is a researcher at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research.
Translated by Ethan Zhan
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
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
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