Put an End to the Liberty Times' McCarthyism

Put an End to the Liberty Times' McCarthyism
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
February 11, 2011

Cross-Strait economic and trade exchanges are finally on track. Cross-strait financial exchanges, investments, official exchanges have all experienced considerable growth. These developments have been a shot in the arm for Taiwan's economy. But amidst this progress, a wave of reaction has struck Taiwan. This reactionary force demonizes anyone connected with cross-Strait trade and investment. It characterizes this progress as the "Invasion of Chinese capital." It calls everyone involved a "Communist." This new wave of McCarthyism is spearheaded by the Liberty Times.

Over the past twenty years, the world has undergone rapid globalization, A nation's economy can no longer remain hermetically sealed. A nation can no longer restrict its dealings to only a handful of other countries. Instead, it must expand its markets. It must invest in plants. It must engage in international cooperation. It must have global distribution and logistics. Otherwise it cannot compete globally. Taiwan businesses are attempting to position themselves globally. The Mainland boasts vast productive resources. Income growth has created a vast market. We enjoy cultural and linquistic advantages. Why on earth should we give them up?

Many Taiwan based enterprises have investments on the Mainland. This has helped them maintain their competitiveness. It has kept them close to their markets. Many OEM oriented industries have set up factories on the Mainland at the behest of their clients. Otherwise their orders would have dried up. They would have found it difficult to survive. If these businesses vanish from the increasingly competitive global arena, Taiwan's economy will decline. The plain fact is that flat panels, OEM chips, and other key industries and enterprises on Taiwan have invested heavily on the Mainland. Only by doing so have they been able to remain competitive in the global marketplace. ECFA has been signed. Mainland tourists have been allowed to visit. This has brought new prosperity to Taiwan. An increasing proportion of the revenues of many listed companies come from the Mainland. For many of them, the proportion exceeds one half. Many investors hold China themed stocks. They are aware of the benefits of setting up plants on the Mainland. They are aware of the profits to be made from Mainland sales. They are aware of the positive impact for Taiwan's economy.

But the Liberty Times holds a different world view. The Liberty Times longs to seal off Taiwan, to put a padlock on Taiwan. In 2002 and 2003, a public debate was held over the construction of chip fabs on the Mainland. The Liberty Times opposed the move. It alleged that allowing the move would result in a loss of competitiveness. Two years ago, negotiations over ECFA began. The Liberty Times opposed ECFA as well. It alleged that signing ECFA would result in the collapse of our economy. People would find themselves out on the street. Over the past two years, successful Taiwan businesses have returned to Taiwan, to list on the stock market, and to invest in the island. Yet the Liberty Times persists in its ravings. It persists in calling others "Communists." It persists in accusing others of "having Chinese coloration." It persists in accusing others of "using proxies to gobble up Taiwan businesses."

These businesses left their hometowns. They struggled to succeed on the Mainland. They established themselves commercially. They struck it rich. Now, they have returned to invest in Taiwan, to set up factories, or purchase businesses. The bottom line is they have created more job opportunities on Taiwan. They have created greater economic value. Yet they must endure baseless attacks from the Liberty Times. According to the Liberty Times, OEM chip plants and other industries should never have been built on the Mainland. ECFA should never have been signed. Taiwan businesses should never have been permitted to return to Taiwan to invest. The fact is, the Liberty Times deluded economic policies would have killed off Taiwan's economy long ago.

The Liberty Times belongs to the Federal Group. The Federal Group got its start in real estate. Its boss Lin Jung-san, is a former legislator, former Control Yuan member, and former Control Yuan President. During authoritarian rule, he obediently carried out political directives. The KMT routinely gained the support and obedience of "nativist" businessmen through land deals. These land deals delivered vast wealth into the hands of these "nativist" businessmen. When former Taipei County Chief You Ching recalled the Xinzhuang Satellite City case, he revealed that all landlords were required to donate land in accordance with regulations. Only Lin Jung-san failed to do so. When the KMT lost Taipei County to the DPP, he swiftly obtained construction permits. You Ching said "Lin Jung-san owes Taipei County."

The public on Taiwan has a high opinion of traditional industries. Those businesses able to export their products, to make money in foreign lands, or to earn foreign exchange, have been applauded by the public. But businesses which have engaged in land speculation, which have colluded with corrupt officials, which have abused land zoning to their private advantage, which have raked in billions in windfall profits, which have deprived ordinary people of housing due to rising prices, have been roundly condemned by the public.

Today, a company which amassed its wealth through real estate profiteering, uses its media mouthpiece to trumpet its "love for Taiwan." Meanwhile, other companies, which struggled far from home, which returned to Taiwan to invest in Taiwan, have been denounced as "Communists." How and when did such glaring double standards become the norm? The Liberty Times amassed a fortune from illicit real estate deals, at the expense of the Taiwan public. The Liberty Times then turned around and denounced companies which made an honest profit on the Mainland as "Communists." Such is the Liberty Times' "love for Taiwan." The 1950s McCarthy era sundered American society, and impacted many of society's elites. The Liberty Times must cease its McCarthyite demagoguery. Otherwise Taiwan will be similarly impacted as well.

中時電子報 新聞
中國時報 　2011.02.11
社論－讓紅色麥卡鍚主義化為灰燼
本報訊

　兩岸經貿往來步入正軌日趨熱絡後，兩岸資金往來、投資、人員參訪等都較過去長足的成長，此發展對台灣經濟也注入更多活水。但在此過程中，我們卻發現台灣持續存在著一股逆流，這股逆流對任何涉及兩岸經貿與投資事項，一概給予負面解讀，全視為所謂「中資入侵」，甚至到處給人戴紅帽子。這種紅色麥卡鍚主義又以《自由時報》為代表。

　近廿年堪稱全球化進展最快速的時期，一個國家、一個經濟體的運作，早已不再是封閉對內，或面對少數幾個國家即可運作，而是必須在市場拓銷、投資設廠、國際合作上，都要有全球布局與運籌，否則難以在全球競爭中站穩腳步。台灣企業在布局過程中，面對大陸這個擁有龐大生產資源的基地，及在所得增長後釋出的龐大市場，藉由本身在文化、語言上所擁有的相對優勢，怎麼可能會選擇放棄布局？

　對許多國內企業而言，赴大陸投資，除了維繫其競爭力外，也有貼近市場的目的。不少以代工為主的業者，則更是應業主要求而必須赴大陸設廠，否則訂單可能流失，企業更難生存；如果這些企業在全球競技場上競爭力日益流失，台灣經濟必然下滑。擺在眼前的事實是，不論是面板、晶圓代工、及各種台灣重要的產業與企業，透過投資大陸，才更能在全球競爭版圖中立穩腳步。ＥＣＦＡ的簽訂、開放陸客觀光，更是為台灣帶來新榮景。看看不少上市櫃企業，來自大陸的出貨、營收比重不斷上升，不少已超過五成，投資人爭捧這些中概股，即知道來自大陸投資設廠與市場銷售的利益，對台灣企業的挹注，及對國內經濟的正面效益。

　但是看看《自由時報》的主張，卻一貫是封閉、鎖國。在九十一、九十二年各界討論開放晶圓代工赴大陸投資時，《自由時報》一再主張不能開放，認為開放會導致台灣競爭力流失。在兩年前討論與大陸簽訂ＥＣＦＡ時，《自由時報》亦大力反對，儼然簽訂後台灣經濟要崩盤、台灣人都要失業。而對近兩年在大陸經營有成的台商紛紛回台掛牌與投資，《自由時報》也不改其恐共、戴紅帽的習慣作為，動輒冠以「中資色彩」、「中資找替身買台灣企業」等帽子。

　當這些離鄉背井、到大陸奮鬥有成的企業，站穩腳步，存得一桶金後，要回台灣投資，他們或是設廠投資、或是購買企業，無論那種形式，都為台灣創造更多的就業機會、更多的經濟產值，但他們卻要面對《自由時報》這種不分青紅皂白的紅色麥卡鍚主義的質疑與攻擊。如真依《自由時報》主張，等於不要開放晶圓代工等產業赴大陸投資、不要簽ＥＣＦＡ、不要讓台商回台投資，這種封閉、死水式的經濟，早置台灣經濟於死地了。

　《自由時報》為聯邦集團擁有，集團以房地產起家，老闆林榮三擔任過立委、監委及監察院副院長。在那個國民威權統治時代的「侍從政治」中，國民黨慣常以土地利益交換本土商界的支持與服從。許多土地變更利益也這樣輸送到個別企業手中。前台北縣長尤清談到新莊副都心案時，就提到當所有地主都依規定捐出抵費地，只有林榮三不捐，而且台北縣長由國民黨變成民進黨籍時，快速取得建照，因此他說「林榮三欠台北縣民一個公道」。

　台灣傳統社會對生產事業給予相當高的評價，能外銷出口、或在他鄉創業成功賺錢創匯的企業，都能得到社會普遍的肯定。但對炒作地皮、以官商勾結手法，塗畫變更都市計畫，獲取動輒數十甚至上百億土地暴利，讓房價高漲到庶民幾無立錐之地者，則給予負面評價。

　今日一個在房地產獲取高利的企業，透過旗下媒體，口口聲聲愛台灣，卻為那些異地打拚有成，回台投資的企業大戴紅帽，瓦釜雷鳴，何至於斯？一手從島內民眾身上大賺房地產利益，一手為賺大陸錢的企業大戴紅帽，難道，這就是「愛台灣」嗎？上世紀五○年代美國的麥卡鍚主義，讓美國社會分裂，不少社會菁英受創；《自由時報》搞的這套紅色麥卡鍚主義，此一惡質手法如果不能終止，台灣社會也終將承受其負面影響。