President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday hinted that Taiwan may relax its restrictive China investment policy under the condition that the move does not threaten the island's national security.
Chen said in a speech -- delivered on his behalf by Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) at the opening of the National Economic Development Conference -- that the government's "go slow, be patient" China policy reflects the "circumstances and the necessities of the time."
The government, however, may have to revise the policy as a part of the official campaign to boost the competitiveness of Taiwanese companies, many of which are now migrating to China.
Chang also echoed Chen's view by saying that the government is now "objectively reviewing the idea of full cross-strait links" in view of the eventual accession to the WTO of both Taiwan and China.
Such a move, he said, will help promote cross-strait cooperation and include China in the "global strategy of Taiwanese industry," fueling hopes that the government may be becoming more tolerant toward investment across the Strait.
But the deregulation of China's market after its entry into the WTO "deserves attention," he said, because China may increasingly lure away Taiwanese capital, skilled labor and technology.
Hundreds of officials, academics and businessmen met yesterday in what turned out to be a weekend brainstorming session to help jointly pull Taiwan out of its economic downturn.
"Taiwan's economic prosperity is facing a serious challenge," given the global economic slowdown and the downward correction in the economic growth of the major economic powers, such as the US and Japan, Chen said in the statement.
Minister of Finance Yen Ching-chang (顏慶章), Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) and the chairman of the Council of Economic Planning and Development (經建會) Chen Po-chi (陳搏志) also took part in the meeting.
"Any economic transition offers opportunities for reform," Chen said, adding that the economic reforms will create a new phase of economic growth for Taiwan.
Chang also highlighted the seriousness of the challenge, saying that Taiwan's industries will face a "crucial test in the next five to 10 years."
"Our industries face the problems of inadequate infrastructure, lagging technological innovations and a shortage of high-tech personnel," Chang said.
Taiwan's ability to face the challenges brought about by the forces of globalization will be critical to the success of Taiwan in the first part of the 21st century, he said.
The government will help foster Taiwan's new superiority by promoting "knowledge-based industry" that turns out value-added products, he said. Taiwan will increasingly position itself as a research and development and financial management center for traditional industries.
To keep industries at home, Chang said, the government must try to attract investment by lowering taxes, training more skilled labor, helping with industrial waste treatment and cutting red tape.
Participants in the high-profile two-day conference are divided into 10 groups to discuss a wide range of issues. The subjects to be discussed relate to infrastructure, the tax environment, human resources, labor, environmental protection, business land zoning and financing for companies.
Also on the conference agenda are small and medium business enterprises, improving government efficiency, overseas investment and cooperation and encouragement of local government to attract investment.
RESILIENCE: Taiwan plays a key role in semiconductors, energy, information infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, AIT Director Raymond Greene said Taiwan’s continued investment in deterrence and resilience remains vital, especially in uncrewed systems and other emerging technologies, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene said yesterday. Greene made the remarks at the annual National Strategic Summit on Supply Chain Resilience held by the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET), a government-backed think tank. As Taiwan last year became the US’ fourth-largest trading partner and supply chain security is becoming more important, cooperation in emerging technologies continues to deepen between the two countries, he said. The US is committed to accelerating innovation, building key infrastructure, strengthening cooperation
The National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology yesterday showcased its locally developed variants of the Vision 60 robotic patrol dog, which it plans to deploy on the nation’s outlying territories in the South China Sea. The variants were produced under the Joint Lab project — created by the institute and domestic companies — and assembled with domestically produced motors, lenses and artificial intelligence (AI) systems alongside licensed tech from the US, Missile and Rocket Systems Research Division deputy director Jen Kuo-kang (任國光) told the media event at a military base in Taipei’s Dazhi (大直) area. Taiwan has built up its strengths
RIGHT DIRECTION: Taiwan’s efforts to prevent forced labor include a proposal to ‘fully prohibit’ employers from withholding workers’ documents, an official said Taiwan is to establish a mechanism to restrict imports of goods linked to forced labor, the Executive Yuan said yesterday, after the US proposed imposing additional tariffs on Taiwanese goods over labor concerns. “The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Economic Affairs are to establish an interministerial review procedure,” Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said at a news briefing in Taipei. “The government is to use the Foreign Trade Act [貿易法] as the legal basis to restrict imports of goods produced with forced labor” and bring its supply chain governance more in line with international standards on human rights, resilience
NOT IMMEDIATE: Taiwan has a chance to appeal the proposed 10 percent tariff before it starts, while other countries face a 12.5 percent tariff from the trade office Taiwan is among 60 economies determined by the US to have failed to impose or enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor, according to a notice released on Tuesday by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), which proposed imposing an additional 10 percent or more tariff on them. The USTR in a statement said that following an investigation, it had determined under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 that the failure of the 60 economies to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor is
RSS