New Little Economic Giant— Taiwan Will Definitely Win

New Little Economic Giant— Taiwan Will Definitely Win

Ma-Siew’s New Blueprint for Global Networking

Global Networking: Little Economic Giant

The Ma-Siew Presidential Campaign Headquarters released new concepts on December 19 for its blueprint linking Taiwan to the rest of the world. The new concepts call for efforts to turn Taiwan into a little economic giant standing on the shoulder of a larger giant.

According to the concepts, the issues facing Taiwan are simple and clear:

Firstly, there is no way for Taiwan to shun the new wave of globalization. Taiwan can either go with the flow and rise to the challenge or be overwhelmed by the wave and lose its competitiveness. Companies must have a global perspective, and Taiwan must start thinking about strategies in the context of global economic cooperation, including a division of labor.

Secondly, Mainland China is currently the global economic locomotive. Taiwan must not ignore this fact but instead should rise to the challenge.

Thirdly, Taiwan must not blindly resist Mainland China and isolate itself from the rest of Asia and the global trend without creating concrete strategies first. Indiscriminate, unreasonable resistance is not in Taiwan’s favor. Alternatively, Taiwan can capitalize on the rise of Mainland China, the desire of other countries to expand into Mainland China, and Taiwan’s geopolitical advantages to turn itself into a little economic giant standing on the shoulder of a larger giant.

Economic Vitalization: Global Perspective
The general concept in the blueprint is for Taiwan to use its geographical advantages and sign free trade agreements with other countries under the framework of the WTO. Also outlined in the concepts are the establishment of a free trade zone with APEC member states and normalization of economic and trade relations with Mainland China to form a new global economic network.

The new concepts contain three major strategies for this purpose:

Firstly, replacing the “Bird-Cage Policy” with an “Economic Vitalization Plan.” Ports are the prerequisites of economic vitalization. The new concepts propose to do the following:
--Open seven cross-Strait direct-flight airports
--Open seven cross-Strait direct-shipping ports
--Relax the 40% investment cap and restrictions on industries invested in, and encourage companies to leave core technology in Taiwan

Secondly, integrate the global market with business opportunities on Mainland China, with Taiwan being the center.
--Direct Flights: Build Taiwan as the “double-gold” airline hub connecting Tokyo Haneda Airport, Seoul Gimpo Airport, and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport in the north, and link Hong Kong, Singapore, and other capitals of ASEAN member states in the south.
--High-Tech Industries: Build two “double-gold” strategic triangles (Silicon Valley-Taipei-Shanghai and Tokyo-Taipei-Shanghai)

Thirdly, create a breakthrough in regional economic cooperation by building cross-Strait links
--Push for the creation of an East Asia Community
--Participate in regional economic integration arrangements including the ASEAN+3 and ASEAN+6.
--Gradually realize the creation of Taiwan Free Trade Zone

For details on the concepts, framework, and action plans involved in the New Blueprint for Taiwan’s Economy, please consult the Ma-Siew 2.0 website at www.ma19.net.

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