Further economic integration between Taiwan and China would not benefit Taiwan, former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said yesterday.
Speaking at a seminar for young people organized by the TSU, Lee said that basic economic theory suggested that a closer relationship with China would be detrimental to Taiwan.
As the two economies integrate, Lee said, there would an equalization between the factors of production -- land, labor, capital, brainpower, etc. -- and prices.
PHOTO: CNA
"If we keep strengthening the economic ties and integration between Taiwan and China," Lee said, "real-estate prices, interest rates and salary levels in this nation will slump and finally fall to the same level as China's."
With his young audience in mind, Lee said: "With more and more Chinese university graduates and workers flooding into Taiwan, it would be harder and harder for you to find a job."
He also pointed to the examples of Germany and Hong Kong, both of which have experienced severe economic problems in the wake of unification.
"Those who support the so-called `common market' concept are stupid people in my eyes," Lee said.
Further economic integration would in fact only benefit those businessmen with interests in China, Lee said. "However, the majority of the workforce, including farmers, white-collar workers, blue-collar workers, soldiers, teachers and civil servants would not get a dime," he said.
"The middle class is the stabilizing power in Taiwan. Nothing can be done if you don't look after them," Lee said, "because it is they who tend to defend values of democracy and freedom, which are the core values of Taiwan."
Lee asked the students participating in the seminar to mull over "meaning of the existence of Taiwan's subjectivity."
"Although we are of different generations," Lee told his audience, "we all have to face the same threats from China together. So you must learn how to resist bravely the political, economic, psychological and military threats from China, and learn not to surrender to Chinese hegemony because of its pressure."
Citing Abraham Lincoln's speech that a nation could not be both "half slave and half free," Lee described Beijing's "one country, two systems" concept as evil..
"It denies the given rights of Taiwanese to choose their future for themselves. The concept not only threatens people in Taiwan, but others elsewhere as well," Lee said.
"Some people in Taiwan have been infected with the `one-China' virus, and they indulge in wishful thinking that, if we concede to China politically, there will be peace. But ... peace will not come. Pre-World War II Europe is the best example to show that appeasement only brings war. it shows an aggressor that threats work," he said.
"In [the Old Testament book of] Exodus, the Israelites complained to Moses that the escape from Egypt only brought pain and turbulence. They asked to go back to Egypt," said Lee. "But should we go back and live a life of slavery?" he said.
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
TRADE: A mandatory declaration of origin for manufactured goods bound for the US is to take effect on May 7 to block China from exploiting Taiwan’s trade channels All products manufactured in Taiwan and exported to the US must include a signed declaration of origin starting on May 7, the Bureau of Foreign Trade announced yesterday. US President Donald Trump on April 2 imposed a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, but one week later announced a 90-day pause on its implementation. However, a universal 10 percent tariff was immediately applied to most imports from around the world. On April 12, the Trump administration further exempted computers, smartphones and semiconductors from the new tariffs. In response, President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration has introduced a series of countermeasures to support affected
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
CROSS-STRAIT: The vast majority of Taiwanese support maintaining the ‘status quo,’ while concern is rising about Beijing’s influence operations More than eight out of 10 Taiwanese reject Beijing’s “one country, two systems” framework for cross-strait relations, according to a survey released by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday. The MAC’s latest quarterly survey found that 84.4 percent of respondents opposed Beijing’s “one country, two systems” formula for handling cross-strait relations — a figure consistent with past polling. Over the past three years, opposition to the framework has remained high, ranging from a low of 83.6 percent in April 2023 to a peak of 89.6 percent in April last year. In the most recent poll, 82.5 percent also rejected China’s
RSS