tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post8230829437536901120..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: AmCham: Taiwan too dependent on ChinaMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-72163172780316004832011-06-10T08:10:17.139+08:002011-06-10T08:10:17.139+08:00When I first saw this post, all the AMCHAM ECFA ch...When I first saw this post, all the AMCHAM ECFA cheerleading articles popped into mind. I also remembered how they lavished their support on Ma Ying-jiu during the last election. I remembered talking with some of their reps and being criticized as an "isolationist" for raising the same concerns. I was told with that American assuredness that we've been hearing for two decades, "China is the future. Once they open up and see how great free markets and democracy are, they'll change."<br /><br />Funny... in a sad way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-63784249461777440402011-06-09T23:57:55.485+08:002011-06-09T23:57:55.485+08:00I think Amcham wants to stop being screwed by the ...I think Amcham wants to stop being screwed by the regulatory and bureaucratic regime of Taiwan and had hoped that they would take a more westernized approach rather than the traditional Chinese mandarin approach. They probably hoped that a closer China approach would cut down on their expenses by allowing them to merge operations. I can't see many making money out of selling things to Taiwanese or Chinese unless it's somehow specialized. <br /><br />Unfortunately for them no one in Taiwan knows WTF is going on and they hoped that by joining closer to China, that would become more apparent along with Taiwan becoming more modern and westernized. Taiwan is unfortunately following a more insular path like Japan rather than a more outward path like Singapore. <br /><br />This basically means we're screwed with an aging population with stagnant wages, overpriced housing and failing infrastructure. Then we get high debt rates that will probably mean more taxes(VAT and import/export duties) for the lower classes.Okaminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-42068341905563760952011-06-09T23:23:59.466+08:002011-06-09T23:23:59.466+08:00"I think it is most likely because AmCham lac..."I think it is most likely because AmCham lacks understanding on the political side of thing, and only looks at economic numbers, while China's policy toward Taiwan are mostly driven by political agenda."<br /><br />You nailed it there Dix ...Ben Gorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07215358295386075741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-24845752003432653422011-06-09T22:24:00.711+08:002011-06-09T22:24:00.711+08:00It is funny, Dix. But it is sad too.It is funny, Dix. But it is sad too.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-23468815469076022422011-06-09T22:04:04.756+08:002011-06-09T22:04:04.756+08:00AmCham is mostly right this time, but it is really...AmCham is mostly right this time, but it is really kind of funny given its prev. stances. It really makes them look extremely dumb because anyone who has a basic understanding about Taiwan would know that AmCham's prev. advocation leads directly to today's result of too much dependence on China. Even some of the conclusion/recommendation of this new AmCham analysis today still sounds quite naive and lacks foresight.<br /><br />I think it is most likely because AmCham lacks understanding on the political side of thing, and only looks at economic numbers, while China's policy toward Taiwan are mostly driven by political agenda.Dixteelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05689510846926854542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-80861256220740287592011-06-09T21:09:09.962+08:002011-06-09T21:09:09.962+08:00we discovered during our weekly trips to Costco, t...we discovered during our weekly trips to Costco, that US beef has been replaced with Australian beef.MJ Kleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16859263977094071677noreply@blogger.com