After Taiwan’s 13-0 defeat to Japan in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on March 6, some people on social media brought up the Legislative Yuan’s slashing of sports budgets. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔) responded: “What size budget would it take to beat Shohei Ohtani?”
The focus of the debate was on budget cuts, but Liao’s response instead focused on the amount of money it would take to defeat Japanese superstar Ohtani. It was not a policy discussion, but a knee-jerk reaction — interpreting public investment as a sum that must yield immediate victory.
Following that line of logic, should parents first calculate how much they need to spend on cram schools for their child to rank first in the class? Education has never worked that way.
Investing in education is not about guaranteeing first place — it is about building an environment in which children can grow. Schools need teachers, administrators, facilities and systems. Without a basic foundation, even the most hardworking students would struggle to persevere.
Sports are the same. Athletes do not compete alone; behind them lies grassroots development, training systems, sports science and administrative logistics. These institutional supports are an essential part of cultivating successful athletes.
A historical example is the Qing Empire’s Beiyang Fleet. In the late 19th century, the Qing government spent a fortune establishing its navy. At one point, its total tonnage ranked among the top in the world, making it one of the strongest navies in Asia.
However, as funds were diverted, training reduced and maintenance was neglected, the fleet gradually became hollowed out. By the time the First Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1894, the seemingly powerful fleet quickly collapsed.
Liao’s line of thinking reflects the same logic; he is focused only on winning or losing, overlooking the system as a whole. When the discussion is reduced to how much money it would take to beat Ohtani, the long-term training, institutional development and administrative support necessary for sports development are neglected.
However, the administrative and logistical programs that keep these systems running have been cut during budget reviews, and the proposals for these cuts came from Liao’s party. This year’s general budget is still sitting in the Legislative Yuan waiting to be reviewed.
Liao actually has two problems: his mistaken understanding of public governance and his attitude in the face of scrutiny. When winning or losing is treated as the sole answer, the very systems that sustain sports governance all but disappear.
Shen Yan is a political commentator.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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