The Gov’t Squandered Money Before the Elections, While Procrastinating in Epidemic Prevention and Economic Stimulation

 The Gov’t Squandered Money Before the Elections, While Procrastinating in Epidemic Prevention and Economic Stimulation

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

February 7, 2020

 Translation of an Excerpt

The Wuhan pneumonia epidemic continues to spread; this is the most serious global public health incident following the 2003 SARS epidemic, and also the first black swan for the world economy this year. The impact of the US-China trade war has not been stopped; the Wuhan pneumonia not only once again attacked the Mainland economy, with serious effects on Taiwan, and even Asian as well as the global economy.

The Mainland is Taiwan's biggest export market, occupying 30% of our total exports. When the Mainland economy slows precipitously, Taiwan's exports to the Mainland are immediately impacted. In addition, the effects of this wave of city closures following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic have caused a crisis in the breaking of the supply chains for some electronics and traditional industries, affecting Taiwan's exports to other markets as well. Equally worthy of noting is that the public at home have cut their travels for fear of the epidemic and reduced consumption, which will cause a serious onslaught on tourism, retail trade and other industries that rely heavily on domestic consumption.

Before the general elections, the Tsai government frantically squandered tens of billions of NT dollars without any hesitation; now facing the attack of the Wuhan pneumonia, the government should extend its hand to help all industries and trades, yet it procrastinates without a move. Squandering money in a peaceful environment, while with empty hands in an emergency and disaster, isn't this an apt description of the scene? Now that the epidemic is still burning, the government must be prepared for the long-term war of resistance. Please use the same courage and forcefulness displayed in the pre-election squandering of money to rescue our economy.

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