Lots of commentary out there sucking up the CW...Renee Loth of the Boston Globe had an editorial on the 1st about our elections here, with some decent observations but the usual slew of KMT talking points:Economic worries, as much as the ham-handed actions by the DPP, are credited with the party's stunning losses in the country's legislative elections last month. According to the ministry of trade, GDP growth in Taiwan was 5.4 percent this year and is expected to drop to 4.5 percent in 2008 - respectable by Western standards but not compared with Taiwan's neighbors in the region. Unemployment is up, and average incomes have fallen in each of the eight years of DPP control.Everything here is upside down. Unemployment is down (below 4%), and average incomes have risen each year of DPP rule except the recession year of 2001, (DGBAS data), and economic growth compared to other Asian nations? Well, China and India are monsters, of course, but Korea? Last couple of years under 5%. Japan? Stumbling along at under 3%. Singapore and Hong Kong both outperform Taiwan, but its to be expected that cities with little productivity-killing agricultural sector will grow faster. Malaysia has been slightly better than Taiwan, Vietnam clips along at about 7% annually for the last few years, but then it is starting from a much lower base. In other words, Taiwan doesn't do so badly, especially when compared to the developed East Asian nations (never mind Laos, etc). When you ramp up per capital incomes to high, it is difficult to sustain 8% growth consistently over time, unless you are China and can invent your economic figures.
Finally, it should be observed that the KMT has slowed economic growth by starving infrastructure spending in order to blame the DPP, and if the KMT is really concerned about the state of the economy, it controls the legislature, and can pass the necessary stimulus packages any time it likes. But it hasn't, because it prefers to starve local incomes in order to score points against the DPP. Who has screwed (up) the economy?
++++++++++
Also scooping up some pro-KMT talking points was China Confidential, which picks up the Beijing line that Taiwan's referendums are a "foreign policy nightmare" for the US:
Just what the United States does not need: another potential foreign policy nightmare....
Taiwan says it will hold two separate referendum votes on the island's controversial bid for membership in the United Nations during the island's presidential elections in March.
The announcement is certain to enrage China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province that eventually must be reunited with the mainland--peacefully, preferably, or by military means, if necessary.
In a statement issued Friday, Taiwan's Central Election Commission said the two opinion ballots, proposed by the island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and opposition Nationalist Party, will both focus on UN membership.
Nothing nightmarish about the referendums. Even if they pass, they are meaningless -- as China Confidential correctly notes, Beijing can block any entry by Taiwan into the UN. The Bush Administration is making noise because it is aiding Beijing and the KMT, not because it is particularly concerned (note that neither referendum places any restrictions or mandates on the government -- the time of enforcement is unspecified). The whole thing is a tempest in a teacup, a sideshow of a sideshow. Heck, the two referendums in the Jan 12 elections didn't come within shouting distance of being passed...and there is a strong possibility that these won't either. Note that Beijing is described as to be "enraged" -- I love the way commentators posit Beijing's behavior before it happens, thus giving Beijing even more leverage over what's said in the international forums. As I've noted many times, "being enraged" is something Beijing does to gain leverage over the discourse and policy in other nations -- it is not a visceral reaction but a policy choice.
One better piece: Ian Williams talks about the recent elections on the AsiaPacific Forum. Williams is a longtime Asian journalist and has both knowledge of and sympathy for Taiwan. Even better, the podcast is put out by a progressive radio station in NYC -- it's good to see progressives out there talking about Taiwan.
[Taiwan]
You can correct Renee Loth directly at the Boston Globe at loth@globe.com
ReplyDeleteI already did, also cc'd it to her associate editor. I think I'm going to start including a call to action in all my media commentary from now on.
ReplyDeleteOK, it is obvious this is a pro-DPP and pro-independence blog. Lobbying journalists who write articles you do not like is simply childish. Michael Turton's truth is his truth. He is living in his world. However, many do not perceive it that way. Michael Turton is like Don Quichot.
ReplyDeleteMichael, Ian Williams doesn't sound a whole lot "better" to me. Not only does he push a whole bunch of KMT propaganda himself, he gets history wrong, and makes things up.
ReplyDeleteHere's some of what I transcribed from the interview:
- - -
[Interviewer:] While the DPP hopes to gain independence from China, the Nationalist Party advocates maintaining its current status quo relationship.
[Williams:] ... The DPP ... after the Kuomintang had basically dissolved its own dictatorship ... they [the DPP] represent the indigenous islanders ... I think a lot of observers have exaggerated the differences between the parties ... neither of them wants to reunify with China on the spot by any means. I think a recent poll showed that 2% of Taiwanese wanted reunification ... The real question is how to manage it.
...
the Kuomintang, the former Nationalists, say, "Well, of course we're Chinese, but we're still independent, and we're still not going to be part of China until they have democracy there." Neither of the parties is prepared to accept, for example, the "Hong Kong solution," because from their point of view, the Chinese ratted on the deal. ... the slogan was "one country, two systems," ... they're [both Hsieh and Ma] saying "We want to be independent from China, but that's no reason to go sticking our fingers up their nostrils."
...
4-1/2% growth last year ... by what Taiwan and the Asian tigers have come to expect, it [the economy] is "just stuttering along." ... President Chun Shoo-bann [that's how he pronounced it] is, um, he's been part of the problem, (mutter, stumble, unintelligible) he suffered under the dictatorship, and he's a bit of a flamboyant character, and he's concentrated on these -- what you might call "attitude issues" (snort!)
...
[Interviewer, condescendingly, half laughing?:] Like the United Nations resolution which has been discussed... What exactly is that, and is that something that's still going to happen even though the DPP...? ... [back to Williams:] ... the Kwo-min-dang was saying 'Well, y'know, if we talk "softly softly, catchee monkey," if I can sort of (snort, laugh) paraphrase, whereas the, President Chen was using it as a divisive issue ... tying it to the presidential election [as if the KMT's referendum isn't being held the same day?]
...
I have a piece ... on the Taiwanese health service, and, y'know this was actually done under the Nationalists
...
an extremely lively, vituperative press. It's sort of (giggle) second to none in Asia for its shrillness and harshness (snicker) when they disagree with people. ... the referendum, which for fairly obvious reasons gets up the Chinese nostrils [there's that strange metaphor again] ... they don't want a province of China having a referendum ... [IW, channeling the 'Voice of Beijing':] 'What if Guang-dung [that's how he pronounced it] decides that they want democracy?'
[Williams, talking about China's missiles:] .... across the Straits of Taiwan. ... [Interviewer, talking about China's missiles:] But that just seems more of an idle threat ... [Williams turns talk of "missiles" into "rattling cages" and "rattling spears"] ... President Chen was doing the reverse in Taiwan. You know, he was playing it. The Kuomintang is saying, "Hey, let's cool it, and let's just sort of quietly stay independent, and take the money" (chuckle).
- - -
In the end, he gets around to chastising Condolleeza Rice and the Bush administration for their hypocrisy, but it's too little, too late. And Williams' closing remarks say that "[Taiwan] could start World War III, so we should look a lot more closely (chuckle)" seem rather vulgar.
Tim Maddog
You are correct in correcting anyone who writes because so many idiots out there believe every word in print as is it is ordained.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, everything the KMT does is not bad. Just as everything the DPP does is not good.
Having said that, I hope Taiwan lives through both parties.
Chen Shui-bian paid a landmark visit to Taiping island of the Spratly islands. There is no question these islands are part of China. However, Taiwan has no legitimate claim to these islands. It can only claim these islands on behalf of China or ROC. Chen Shui-bian does not even believe that Taiwan is part of China. How can he even claim the Spratley islands? Taiwan independence people do not know any logic!
ReplyDeleteOK, it is obvious this is a pro-DPP and pro-independence blog.
ReplyDeleteWrong. This is a pro-democracy and pro-Taiwan blog.
Lobbying journalists who write articles you do not like is simply childish.
Whereas posting cowardly anonymous insults on a blog whose political position you lack the skills and knowledge to confront meaningfully is really, really mature.
Michael
Was looking into the Spratlys issue a bit, it really is a mess! But I was wondering if Taiwan can't use them as leverage, something like: ok, we know Taiwan as a country has no claim to these islands, so we'll take our claim back and back yours if you concede we do so as a country.
ReplyDeleteWould be interesting, at least :-)
"There is no question that..." doesn't mean what Zyzyx thinks it means, nor does the word "however."
ReplyDeleteTim Maddog
Michael Turton, Taiwan's American Don Quichot, you cannot deny this is an anti-KMT blog, and pro-DPP. Your "analysis" of the elections made that totally clear, and many of your other posts made that clear. You are a blogger with a certain strong opinion. You are not anyone significant or very knowledgeable imho. If I would be one of the writers, I would simply ignore you. That is the procedure of most newspapers.
ReplyDeleteAbout the Spratlys, Chen Shui-bian said in the statement after returning from the island 1,600km south of Taiwan that "There is no question about Taiwan's sovereignty on Taiping island, and we will continue to build structures there to help step up patrols and sea security."
How ridiculous. Taiwan has no claim to the Spratlys, only China or the ROC does, neither does Taiwan have a claim to Kinmen or Matzu. If Chen Shui-bian is sincere with promoting independence, he should say: "What do we care about the Spratlys? It's a leftover from the KMT era. We are going to withdraw our troops. We only want Taiwan to be left alone and we want to be a normal country."
Then I would respect him because he would be consistent, though disagree with his position. Now he wants to reap the profits of the ROC, but not the disadvantages in their opinion, e.g. regarding Taiwan as part of China. Chen Shui-bian has been a demagogue and inconsistent throughout his term. He is living proof that Taiwan is still a developing democracy and where voters have to learn how to deal with such politicians.
zyzyx said: Lobbying journalists who write articles you do not like is simply childish.
ReplyDeleteGosh, you are a judgmental little creature...
Editorial writers, such as Roth, should and probably does invite feedback. Have you ever seen the Letters to the Editor section of a newspaper, zyzyx?
I posted her address for one and all. Why don't you write her a billet doux praising her for all her fine biased words?
The news is slow to respond to the Spratlys takeover. Hope Prez Chen knows what he's doing!
ReplyDeleteMaddog, missed one. Taiwan's economic growth for 2007 was 5.46%. Why Ian Williams cited 4.5% is beyond me...
ReplyDeleteWell, it is clear that anyone who posts contrary remarks to the 'creator' here is due mucho animosity. Sad. By the way, is there a requirement of certain intellectualness here?
ReplyDeleteFinally, it should be observed that the KMT has slowed economic growth by starving infrastructure spending in order to blame the DPP
ReplyDeleteWait, who canceled nuclear 4 project and then try to restart it again and then canceled again.... :)
Arty, the nuclear plant was one project. The KMT has starved infrastructure spending across the island. Just type "UBS" in my search terms and you'll find the places where I've noted their analysis.
ReplyDeleteWell, it is clear that anyone who posts contrary remarks to the 'creator' here is due mucho animosity. Sad. By the way, is there a requirement of certain intellectualness here?
No, the only people I pick on are trolls like cctang and zyzyx.
Michael
Fact: After being devastated by a US and global technology/internet industry slowdown in 2001, growth in Taiwan has not only been a healthy 4-5%, but in fact has been accelerating since 2001.
ReplyDeletecctang and zyzyx's goal is to incite a reaction. By allowing him to post and have people take time and bother to reply, is already allowing them to achieve their goals. It's noble to allow different voices on your blog; unfortunately their goal isn't to win the argument--it's to incite a reaction.
ReplyDelete