28 June 2013

China-Taiwan getting more friendly...(?)

Image Source: Taipei Times
So apparently China and Taiwan signed a cross-strait services trade pact on Saturday 22 June. Under the pact (explanation in Mandarin), Chinese investors can open restaurants, hotels, and hair salons in Taiwan - employing Taiwanese of course - and vice versa for the Taiwanese but they can open travel agencies in China too. A total of 64 industries will be open to Chinese investment, while for China 80 will be open for Taiwanese.


Image Source: BBC
Theoretically, it benefits Taiwan's economy, since a large number of investors in Taiwan have moved to China or elsewhere. It leaves the remaining investors in Taiwan with mostly hospitality and food services as the most attractive type of investment. But practically I can't see how it benefits the people.

I don't trust the quality and safety guarantee of Chinese hair salons (or restaurants for that matter). With so many cases of food safety issues in China, I don't want to think how that will affect Taiwan's image, and it seems that the local press and industries affected by the pact express similar concerns and doubts over the new agreement.

This is going to sound cynical and biased - it's just another step towards kissing China's ass, and one day selling the country back as part of China. Far-fetched and not exactly based on facts, but if I am to be very honest, that is what I think.

Image Source: BBC
I'm not happy with how Ma Ying-jeou has managed things since his re-election, less and less pleased with how things are going. I know a majority of countries elsewhere doesn't really consider Taiwan a country, but no matter how messed up the government is, it's home to me nevertheless. Maybe the investors and their families can see the benefits of Taiwan now so open and rebuilding the China-Taiwan relationship, but for the middle and working class, what can you guarantee?

The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) back in 2010 promised to improve Taiwan's economy, but it has not. Not to mention that this new cross-strait pact allows the investors to bring their family to Taiwan - as immigrants. How outlandish is that?! We might as well be one country already, what
with so many Chinese tour groups.

I'm sad and upset to see my home no longer really home. I'm disappointed that Taiwan has become of this at the hands of our president. A leader who is not listening to the cries and woes of his fellow countrymen and taking the whole country and people with him to fulfill a goal that seems to be fruitless and not worth it.

Sure, China considers Taiwan as its own, and we might benefit from China's growing economy, but seriously China has other issues and matters on their own hands.

It just makes me feel really powerless, helpless and sad. Thanks Ma Ying-jeou, thanks a lot.
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2 comments:

  1. PH33330 June 2013 at 13:54

    Most of the world probably would care less about the actual state of Taiwanese citizen, seeing as both China and U.S. had been favorable of Ma Ying-jeou's re-elction. And that article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/14/ma-ying-jeou-taiwanese-president-wins-re-election_n_1206222.html) even described him as "[l]ow-key and wonkish." I'll say! In his days as Taipei mayor, he didn't seem to stop the cameras that followed him when he went for a jog, and went swimming when the rest of Taiwan was fighting a typhoon. (That had to be the most ironic happening of the decade).
    He promised higher wages and lower unemployment, yet college graduates in Taiwan only have around 20,000 NTD per month as a starting wage (about the same or even lower than that of 30 years ago) and Chinese people can open business and "gain" employment in Taiwan. The government obviously does not care about the welfare of Taiwanese people.

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    1. Chin-Ting Lee30 June 2013 at 20:15

      @PH333, First of all, thanks for your comment :)

      The world could care less about what happens to Taiwanese citizens - yes, it's true and I agree. Both US and China were favourable of Ma's re-election, true as well.

      But I guess for me, as someone who grew up there, I consider it a "home", and seeing these changes that while on the surface benefits the economy, the policy isn't giving any results that I, as a mere, ordinary and insignificant citizen, cannot see.

      I wasn't favourable of Ma's re-election, but all's fair in democracy (?). I can whine and write this blog post but really, I'm powerless. It makes a sort of depressing predicament.

      You raise points of Ma Ying-jeou that I consider true as well (especially the typhoon case, his response had me very angry). Your point on Taiwanese graduates earning only around 20,000 NTD is also a concern that he has failed to address.

      *sigh*

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