The nation will be able to maintain its competitiveness over China as Taiwan remains far ahead of its giant neighbor in vital areas such as high-tech and services, Christine Tsung (
Tsung was responding to critics who say Taiwan will be overtaken by China or become dependent on its neighbor in the coming years. She said the country can maintain its "winning edge," which will keep it among the world's most competitive nations.
"We are still far ahead of China in terms of high-technology, talent, services, Western business culture and Western distribution systems," Tsung said.
TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO
The head of economic affairs stepped down as president of China Airlines Co (
Tsung made the remarks yesterday during a press conference. She said that Taiwanese tend to hold unfair perceptions of the nation's competitiveness.
The World Economic Forum last year rated Taiwan's manufacturing competitiveness as the world's seventh most competitive -- up from 11th a year earlier -- exceeding Switzerland, the UK and Hong Kong, Tsung noted.
How long Taiwan can maintain that edge "depends on how well we can create new high-value-added industries," Tsung said.
But while Tsung stressed Taiwan's current superiority over China and the importance of businesses "leaving their roots in Taiwan," she hoped there would be some "good news" on the further easing of cross-strait trade and investment ties.
The government scrapped a US$50-million limit on individual investments headed for China in November, but still bars certain industries such as semiconductor firms from setting up plants in China.
Steve Chen (
Chen also heads an economic task force made up of 17 representatives from across government, industry and academia.
"We realize that time is pressing and while the general consensus is certainly for an active opening of trade and economic links, many opinions still vary over how greater ties with China can be effectively managed," Chen said.
Tsung said the priority for this new policy remains "Taiwan first, global expansion and a `win-win' management of risks."
But some chipmakers including Morris Chang (
Chang, one of the government's main critics of its slow pace in easing cross-strait investment ties, met with Tsung shortly after lunch yesterday.
Following an hour-long discussion with Tsung, Chang told reporters that he was also upbeat about the prospects for Taiwan's economy.
But he didn't bring up the issue on whether government will free investment barriers on eight-inch wafer foundries in China, as he had done so previously with the government many times before.
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