A Better Future Requires Fuller Preparation

A Better Future Requires Fuller Preparation
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
September 24, 2008

President Ma Ying-jeou recently made two proposals. He proposed allowing students with mainland academic credentials to come to Taiwan. He proposed transforming Sungshan Airport into an international airport. His basic direction is correct. But we would like to remind him that before introducing external resources, we must first make the required preparations. Only then can we establish a secure foundation for long-term development.

Recognizing mainland academic credentials, for example, is a macro level trend. It is eagerly anticipated and meaningful to people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Cross-Strait exchanges have stimulated intellectual creativity on local campuses. They have helped raise academic standards. They have increased mutual understanding about each others' life styles. They have narrowed the psychological distance between members of the younger generation.

Some concerns are of course pragmatic. People are choosing to have fewer children. Many universities on Taiwan have not been able to recruit enough students. They are on the verge of financial collapse. Therefore, many people hope that opening up our universities to mainland students will bring new financial opportunities, and allow universities to avoid bankruptcy. But if one's health is bad, one should take the initiative to improve it. One should not look to an outside savior. That is both unrealistic and risky.

Over the years, Taiwan has established more and more universities. But their quality varies. Seven out of ten attend college. But the unemployment rate among university graduates has repeatedly reached new highs. If the marketplace and natural selection eliminate non-performing universities, they may actually improve the quality of education. Are non-performing universities hoping to be rescued? Are they counting on mainland students to rescue them? Are they defaulting on their responsibility to improve the quality of their teaching and their management? If so, they may forfeit the opportunity to save themselves.

It is easy to daydream. But reality may not be quite so rosy. The mainland has many talented people. Universities in Hong Kong and Singapore are offering scholarships to the best students. Mainland students have the option of studying in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Europe, and America. If mainland students are willing to pay high tuitions to study in Taiwan, it will be because they consider it a worthwhile investment. It will be because they think their diploma will have a market value. Universities on Taiwan must not rely on the label "Taiwan" to attract mainland students. If a university is of poor quality, mainland students will not be interested.

Some people have overly optimistic expectations about the Chinese mainland. Reality will always fall short of one's expectations. For example, many people assumed agricultural exports to the mainland would be highly profitable. But once the novelty wore off, sales went from bad to worse. This must be chalked up to excessive optimism, to a failure to understand the mainland market, and to a lack of marketing channels. We failed to do our homework before entering the mainland market. We must revise our strategy. Only then can we re-enter the mainland market.

And so it was with mainland tourists arriving on Taiwan. The government promised three thousand tourists a day. But only two or three hundred showed up. The government forces mainland tourists to jump through too many hoops. It imposes restrictions on the places they may visit and the number of days they may stay. Mainland tourists are being seriously inconvenienced. If these problems are not resolved, nothing will change. Cross-strait exchanges must be based on mutual respect and mutual understanding. One must not harbor unrealistic expectations about the mainland while demanding nothing from oneself.

President Ma has proposed a "Northeast Asian Double Gold Hub." His intention is to internationalize domestic airports, allowing Taipei's Songshan Airport to link with Shanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul. This will save travel time and promote the development of science and technology. The plan is worthy of consideration. But before we attempt to take on such an ambitious plan we must ask ourselves, are we really ready?

As a link to international airports in Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai, Sung Shan Airport's buildings and facilities are far from adequate. Sungshan Aiport was barely able to cope with renovations for mainland tourists. If Tokyo, Shanghai, and other popular routes are added, including routes to the US, then major expansion and renovation is necessary. But so far no department has either the plans or the budget. Before the government attempts to turn Taipei into a Northeast Asian Double Gold Hub, it needs to draw up plans for a new Sungshan Airport. Once those are complete, we can talk about the next step.

Sungshan Airport is too small and too shabby. Even the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taoyuan, the ostensible gateway to the nation, is an embarrassment. Compared to the lively and distinctive airports in neighboring Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo, it is hard to believe this is the official gateway to one of the Four Asian Dragons. Chiang Kai-shek International Airport is poorly equipped. Its services are minimal. Its shops are few and deserted. Its design lacks aesthetic appeal. We have talked about building a rapid transit system from the airport for the past 20 years. But so far we have nothing to show. Obviously the government needs to do far more to improve our air transportation infrastructure.

Taiwan has abundant opportunities for development. Its hard-working people have experienced difficulties in the past and overcome them one by one. We know how to stand on our own two feet. Depending upon others will only hinder our progress. Given fierce global competition, we must demand more from ourselves. We must remain strong and self-confident as we face future challenges.

中時電子報
中國時報 　2008.09.24
美好願景還需充分的準備
中時社論

馬英九總統日前提出承認大陸學歷讓陸生登台、松山機場國際化兩項政策，其基本方向都是正確的，在此我們想要提醒的是，要引進外來資源之前，我們必須先作好應有的準備，才能為一切長遠發展打造穩健的基礎。

以承認大陸學歷為例，這不只是大勢之所趨，對兩岸雙方也有正面意義，許多人因此引頸期盼。一方面，交流為校園帶來的切磋刺激，有助於提昇學術水準，並且增進兩岸人民對彼此生活、制度、價值觀的了解，拉近年輕世代的心理距離。

當然也有人抱著現實的考量。在少子化的潮流下，台灣許多大學近來苦於招不到足夠的學生，經營上搖搖欲墜，因此不少人寄望開放陸生能帶來新的財源，讓學校免於倒閉關門。然而，如果自己體質不良，卻不思檢討改進，完全把希望寄託於外來的拯救，不僅一廂情願，也是很危險的。

台灣這些年來廣設大學，品質的確良莠不齊，七分也可以上大學，但大學畢業生的失業率卻迭創新高，若能藉由市場機制自然淘汰不良大學，反而有助於教學品質。現在後段班的大學如果存有依賴之心，一味指望靠陸生解決困境，卻不積極改善教學與經營品質，結果可能會失去自救的機會。

做 白日夢容易，現實狀況卻未必那麼樂觀。大陸優秀人才非常多，香港、新加坡的大學均以優厚獎學金來爭取最頂尖的學生。對大陸學生而言，要留學，台、港、星乃 至歐、美、日，都是選擇之一。如果大陸學生願意付出高學費來台灣念書，必然是因為能得到足夠的收穫，文憑將來也有市場價值，不是光靠「台灣」這面招牌就可 以讓陸生把門檻踏穿的。大學本身素質太差的話，大陸學生也不見得會有興趣。

有些人對中國大陸有過於一廂情願的期待， 但期待和事實往往會有差距。例如原本以為農產品銷往大陸一定會大發利市，結果三分鐘熱度一過，銷售績效每下愈況，而這又必須歸咎於事前過度樂觀、不了解大 陸市場、以及缺乏整體行銷管道。在前進大陸市場之前，我們沒有做好準備功課，現在唯有重新檢討策略，才有能力再度進軍大陸。
同樣的情形也見 諸大陸觀光客來台，之前政府開出一天三千人的支票，結果如今一天不過二、三百人。但台灣對陸客來台手續、旅遊天數及地點的諸多規定，令陸客覺得頗不方便， 這些問題如果不解決，現況可能還會持續。兩岸交流必須本著彼此尊重、相互體諒，不能一面對大陸市場有不切實際的依賴，一面卻不對自己有所要求。

至於馬總統提出的「東北亞雙黃金航圈」主張，用意是重新把國內機場國際化，讓台北的松山機場和上海、東京、首爾連結，節省交通時間並促進科技發展，這也是值得肯定的政策方向。不過，同樣的，在實現這個遠大的計畫之前，我們也要先問問自己，到底準備好了沒有？
很 明顯的，以現在松山機場的建築和設備，遠遠不足以成為能和東京、首爾、上海對飛的國際機場。前不久光是要迎接陸客，就花了好一番整修才勉強能夠應付，如果 想再承擔東京、上海甚至美國等熱門航線，非進行大規模的擴建甚至全盤改建不可，但至今並沒有任何部門提出過這樣的計畫與預算。在擘畫台北未來成為東北亞雙 黃金航線之前，可能政府必須先規畫出一個新松山機場的建設計畫來；完成了，才能談到下一步。

其實，不要說松山機場太 過狹小寒酸，連代表國家門面的桃園國際機場，和亞洲鄰國的曼谷、新加坡、香港、首爾、東京等熱鬧氣派又各具特色的機場相比，也是相形見絀到令人汗顏的地 步，簡直無法相信這是亞洲四小龍之一的最大國際機場。桃園國際機場不只設備簡陋、服務陽春、店面少而冷清、設計缺乏文化美感，機場捷運談了廿年，到現在八 字依舊看不到一撇。很顯然的，對於改善台灣的飛航環境與交通條件，我們還有很多需要努力的地方。

台灣有良好的發展條件，以及優秀勤奮的人民，過去經歷過多少難關，我們都一一克服了，這樣的台灣，應該最懂得自立自強之道。依賴只會阻礙進步，靠別人不如靠自己。在當前激烈的全球化競爭下，台灣必須對自己有更嚴格的鞭策，才能堅強自信地面對所有的挑戰。