From: liaohen@cbnews.cb.att.com (Heng-Hsin Liao)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan
Subject: Re: more than 50% support TI
Date: 31 Dec 92 00:04:03 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Lab

From article <1992Dec30.211918.3032@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, by li@sicvax.enet.dec.com (Tom Li):
> 
> ... 
>>One example, direct election for President is already a trend in Taiwan.
>>China also shouted that they cannot bear with it. It is equivalent to
>>independence. You think they are serious or just joking? Then what? Let's
>>give up the idea to prevent a possible war? Definitely not. It doesn't
>>matter what's their attitude. We do what we want and we need an
>>excellent defense system for all the people's sake.
> 
> Personally I am in favor of direct election for President because I think it 
> very democratic and effective way. I never thought it anything to do with 
> independence but just part of political reform. 
> 
> I dont recall "China shouted that they cannot bear with it". Even so, CCP can 
> say little because this is our political reform not DECLARATION of 
> independence. 
> 

From China's point of view, Taiwan is a province of China and is under the
control of KMT. I don't know how they call President Li now. But definitely
they won't call him a "President." By the same token, they have no problem
to talk. But they insist to talk to KMT only instead of the government.

To them, direct election for president in Taiwan is like Taiwan has a
"real" president instead of the current "KMT ruler." To them, it is not
far away from independence although we don't say it.

Direct election to me is also a huge step toward democracy and independence.
To pro-unification people, at least the former is true. We'll see what
China is going to do on this. With no doubt, we need to prepare for it.

>>"De facto" implies "commonly accepted." Are we commonly accepted as an
>>independent country? Are we really enjoy the current situation?
> 
> I mean "pragmatic independence". Do you think "Republic of Taiwan" will be 
> commonly accepted? 
> 

Yes.

> ...
> 
> Not only China but also Thailand etc other countries will catch up us if we 
> dont move to upmarkets. It is just principle of economics and why this has 
> anything to do with independence? Do you really think independence can 
> avoid China's dominance? then how about Japan, just look at our trade 
> deficit with Japan? How about S. Korea, our current competitor?
> 

Yes, as long as we export different levels of product, how do China
dominate us? Is it possible that China dominate Japan in 50 years?
My answer is no.

My point is the current "status quo" situation significantly slows down
the pace of our economic reform. Independence is a way to break through
to me.

>
> ...
> 
>>If we were catched up by China someday, it
>>would become an "unfair competition." Taiwan would be in danger at
>>that time.
> 
> "unfair competition"? Why? 
> 

Okay, assuming Taiwan and China export the same product at the same price.
What is going to happen if China decide to "punish" Taiwan by declaring
to the world: "If you import something from Taiwan instead of China, China
will take back your market share of whatever in China." "Unfair" may be
too strong since China has a much bigger market is a fact. Think about
a population ratio of 50:1 and a consumption capability ratio of 10:1 now
and 20:1 ten years later. (10:1 and 20:1 are my guesses.) By the same
token, other developing Asian countries would not be serious threats if
they caught up with Taiwan because they don't have much bigger markets
compared to ours and we are no enemy to them.

There is a problem though. What if China do the same thing to us even
if we export high value-added products? Anybody want to comment on this?


Heng-Hsin
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan,soc.culture.china