News Article: http://www.economist.com/node/18229208
Taiwan and China are at it again, but this time economic integration seems to be going smoothly. At least on the surface. It seems China has been claiming control of Taiwan since the dawn of time, but since Ma Yin-jeou was elected in 2008 Taiwan’s KMT party has been making considerable advances toward cooperation with the mainland. Already 15 cross-strait agreements have been solidified, and this includes the highly disputed ECFA (Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement). Recently the Economic Co-operation Committee visited Taiwan to start work on what might develop into a free-trade agreement between Taipei and Beijing.
Although there are many opposed to unification, whether politically or economically, with China, Taiwan has seen economic benefits from its dealings with the bully across the strait. Quite possibly “China hopes economic interdependence will win hearts and minds” on the island. It is interesting to note how China uses its economic power to pull strings abroad, as well as domestically. The burgeoning capitalist economy is currently the only thing keeping the Communist Party afloat in the absence of support for Communist ideology, so China has adopted this economic strategy to try and gain support from the Taiwanese.
This blog is meant to be a space for the Austin College community to discuss issues related to China and the Chinese language. For author permissions, please write to Dr. Jennifer Thackston Johnson: jtj.at.ac –at- gmail.com. Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas.
I grew up watching Chinese television. This means everyday I would hear the Chinese media berate the Taiwanese government on their lack of competence and other such things. The last few years have been particularly harsh do to the overthrow of the former Taiwanese President, Chen Shui-Bian. The Chinese media even created chants to illustrate the hatred they felt for A-Bian. I think as long as both countries exist there will be problems and difficulties; however, they can not be without one another.
ReplyDelete