From: chyang@crevecouer.engin.umich.edu (Chung Hsiung Yang)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan
Subject: RE: Those Typical Taiwanese
Date: 22 Jan 1993 20:41:32 GMT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: crevecouer.engin.umich.edu
Originator: chyang@crevecouer.engin.umich.edu


In article <16B5D139A5.RAJA@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu>, RAJA@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu writes:
> In article <i8PoXB1w165w@student.business.uwo.ca>
> g3wong@student.business.uwo.ca (Gregory Wong) writes:
>  
> >
> >Hey Raja! You don't think Taiwan's rich? Take a look at the foreign
> >exchange reserves of $84 billion, the largest in the world. Taiwan's the
> >second largest investor in Southeast Asia and mainland China. Taiwan's
> >got money, buddy and the disparity of wealth (difference in the income of
> >rich to poor) is the smallest in the world. Sure, they may not have the
> >best quality of life, living standard, but they DO HAVE money.
>  
> You also forgot to subtract $50 billion for environment cleanup backlog, 40%
> in inflated exchange rate (from 40 : US$1 to today's 24 : US$1), about $XX.00
> billion of American Foreign Aid, and perhaps $xx.00 billion of intangible
> cost for your countrymen's lousy personality development.  See, now
> you've a negative foreign exchange reserve.  You may have a very different
> definition for richness than that of mine; however,I just don't see how you can
> call yourself rich while your GNP is not even ranked in the TOP 10 among the
> third world!
 
	Hmm...   I don't think that Taiwan has receive any American 
foreign aid since the mid 70's.  But Taiwan did give many foreign aid to
3rd world nations though.  (Nigaragua ...  etc...)

	"Lousy Personality Development..."  Maybe it is time to lay off
the Karaoke bars.  


 >The poor image of MIT (made-in-Taiwan) products is the legacy of poor
> >products made during the economic development of the country. Japan had
> >in the same problems in the 50s and 60s with their cars and radios the
> >laughing stock of the whole world. Taiwan is a generation behind Japan
> >and it'll take time before MIT is equated to good quality. Do you think
> >HK and Singapore have better images? I don't think so.
>  
> But for NOW, MIT is the number one laughing stock.  The future outlook may be
> good.  Keep your fingers crossed, you may well get it.
>  


> The Singaporean are able to achieve a GNP of US$15k with minimal environment
> destruction.  They started to stress quality 10 years before the Taiwanese
> even realize the importance of quality.  They didn't even have the tool of
> "SON MING CU E" that you guys treasure.  I have seen TV programs that make
> fun of Made in Hong Kong, but I haven't encountered any MIS jokes yet, have
> you?  BTW, take my words, I AM NOT A SINGAPOREAN.
>  
> >

	Why do you keep on comparing countries the size of a city to 
a Taiwan.  Wouldn't it be more fair to compare Singapore to say ..
Taipei.  If you do so, the GNP for Taiwan will be mu;ch higher.  

	Singapore is doing a very good job attracting trade and foreign
investment, but the country is mostly service and manufactring oriented.
Taiwan has full blown industries, that produce heavy products for other
industries.  The economic make up of Taiwan and Singapore is very different.
But when it comes down to it, I take Taiwan anyday because she has the 
capability from R & D all the way to high level production and manufactoring.  

	But I am not putting down Singapore, because I think they are doing
a very good job.  But their situation is very different from Taiwans.

	By the way, I am glad that you are not a Singaporean.  Most
Singaporean's are very nice, unlike you Sir/Ms.

> >You obviously don't know much about Taiwan. Both industry and government
> >in Taiwan are trying to improve the image of MIT. It's ingrained
> >attitudes like yours which makes it difficult. It will take time but I'm
> >confident that they will be successful.
> >
> >The government provides investment tax credits for companies developing
> >their own brand identities. The Brand International Promotion Association
> >is a group of Taiwan companies sharing information and ideas on how to
> >develop and market Taiwan brands. Here are some of the brands:
> >
> >Acer
> >Tatung
> >ProKennex
> >Giant
> >Sampo
> >Nova
> >United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC)
> >Microtek
> >Mitac
> >Genius
> >Gigo
> >Foxconn
> >Leadwell
> >Kent
>  
> I have heard of none of these brands except Tatung.  My former Taiwanese
> roommate actually treasured his Tatung rice cooker.
>  

	Most of these companie listed here are consumer electronics or 
sports equipment.  Unless you are from a third world country, you should 
have at least heard some of these names.   But these companies are not
the back bone of Taiwan's economy.  The gentalmen  who wrote this post 
forgot to include heavy industries, such as Evergreen, the shipping 
company.  Taiwan plastic (Huge), and President Company.  These company 
may not be well know because they are the parent companies to many of
the products that you see in the US.   For example President owns one of
US's top five bakeries.  I think it was "Famous Amos"  or something.
It is well know in I think the east cost.  

	There are many more heavy industries, I'll have to look it up.

> >
> >There are many more and if there's anyone interested, I can upload the
> >rest.
> >
> >There are a lot of really exceptional companies on Taiwan but their image
> >is tarnished by a few poor ones. Like Japan, it will take time but it
> >also requires people to be open-minded and to shatter ingrained
> >attitudes.
>  
> Let me rephase that: a few decent companies but their image is tarnished by a
> flood of poor ones.
>                            -- not a mainlander

	Hmm...  not a mainlander... I am glad too.  I had thought that the 
mainlanders have more class than you do, Sir/Ms.

-  Happy Chinese New Year, Assume that you celerbrate it.

-  C. H. Yang

> >
> >g3wong@student.business.uwo.ca (Gregory Wong)
> >Western Business School  --  London, Ontario
Xref: sparky soc.culture.taiwan:17539 alt.culture.indonesia:992