Taiwan needs a pair of wings to lift its economy and emerge from its current economic stagnation, and improvements to local economies and value-added innovation would serve as those wings, former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday.
The development of local economies with a range of characteristics and job creation potential as well as industrial competitiveness coming from value-added innovation and entrepreneurship are crucial for the creation of a new driving force for the economy, Tsai wrote on her Facebook page.
“Neither is dispensable for Taiwan to develop its economy in the face of global financial crisis and future challenges,” Tsai wrote.
Photo: Yang Yi-min, Taipei Times
Agriculture is the key to developing local economies, Tsai said.
The former DPP presidential candidate called for a comprehensive review of the fallow land agricultural policy and for the government to assume a managerial role in developing those lands, without taking property rights away from farmers.
Taiwan was forced to implement fallow agricultural policies after its accession to the WTO in 2002, making the Council of Agriculture “more of a subsidy distributing agency than a policy formulating agency,” she said.
The council’s role should be changed and the ministry should lease fallow land at higher prices than past subsidies so the areas can be utilized to increase agricultural production.
The other wing would be “innovation, entrepreneurship and high value-added products,” which Stan Shih (施振榮), former chairman of the computer manufacturer Acer, also advocated, she said.
Tsai encouraged young people to establish their own businesses with courage and confidence, the same way their grandparents and parents did in the post-World War II era, which later became known as “Taiwan’s economic miracle.”
“It’s time for young people in Taiwan to create their own businesses using innovative ideas. The passion of these young entrepreneurs would get Taiwan’s economy moving again,” she said.
Asked on the sidelines of a folk ceremony in Yilan County yesterday about the current socio-political atmosphere and whether the Cabinet should be replaced, Tsai told reporters that people seem to be experiencing a collective fear caused by financial hardship.
She did not say whether there should be a Cabinet reshuffle, but said “Taiwanese are very aware of how well the administration has performed.”
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
The US Department of State on Monday reaffirmed that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, following US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “unification” while commenting on recent trade talks with China. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, Trump described what he viewed as progress in trade negotiations with China held in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. “They’ve agreed to open China — fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.” Trump’s use of the
RSS