Restoring Taiwan's Economic Preeminence

Restoring Taiwan's Economic Preeminence
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
June 25, 2012

Summary: The nation is beset by problems from within and without. This summit may be able to exert some influence. We hope the summit will inspire enthusiasm, thought, and team work. We hope it will inspire change and move Taiwan in the right direction.

Full Text below:

The "Two Critical Years: Blazing the Trail for Taiwan's Economy" summit convened today. It is Part Two of the "Two Critical Years, Taiwan's Preeminence" editorial series created by the United Daily News Vision Workshop.

The editorial series asks questions. The summit attempts to arrive at an agreement on how to transform the economy and restore Taiwan's preeminence.

Last week we published five daily editorials on "Two Critical Years, Taiwan's Rapid Transformation." We compared Taiwan to other small and medium East Asia economies such as South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. We pointed out four facts. One. Taiwan's economy is rapidly falling behind. It is now bringing up the rear among the four Asian Tigers. Two. Taiwan's industrial upgrading and transformation have reached a bottleneck. We have been relegated to OEM status. We are on the verge of losing our industrial advantages. Three. The cross-strait economic agreement (ECFA), Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and "free economic zone" may be breakthrough policies. But they have bogged down and are now at a stand still. Four. Economic development requires people of ability. But we now face a brain drain. These four factors interact with each other. They have become part of a negative feedback loop that must be interrupted.

Since the publication of our special reports, the public has responded enthusiastically. Readers have phoned in and encouraged the UDN's efforts. Internet page hits have reached new highs. These reflect public concern over Taiwan's economic plight. Experts from industry, government, academia, and research institutes have made policy recommendations. They have directly echoed the aspirations of the "Two Critical Years for Rapid Transformation." They have weighed in on the debate, and strongly criticized TV talk shows for not doing their duty.

This is what the Vision Workshop hoped to accomplish with its "exert influence" initiative. Today's summit will become a platform by which to "effect change." We hope the participating leaders can formulate an economic strategy for the next two years, and contribute to Taiwan's progress.

The "Two Critical Years, Blazing a Trail for Taiwan's Economic Future" summit has other implications. One. This is not a top-down government project. It was organized by the private sector United Daily News Vision Workshop. It makes recommendations to the government and the opposition. Two. As soon as the United Daily News began promoting this project, experts from government, industry, academia, and research institutes generously offered suggestions and assistance. These experts include former Vice President Vincent Siew, former Premier Liu Chao-hsuan, TSMC Chairman Morris Chang, Acer founder Stan Shih, and other respected leaders. All were willing to participate. Clearly people from all walks of life are concerned about the nation's political and economic plight. They feel a sense of mission. Three. Taiwan's economy is beset by problems, from within and without. From without, the European debt crisis remains unsolved, and the global economy remains in turmoil. From within, the government and opposition remain deadlocked. The nation is spinning its wheels and falling to pieces. Rapid changes to the international picture have brought opportunities and challenges that our ruling and opposition parties have yet to face. The summit could not be more timely.

Participants in today's summit include experts from government, industry, foreign companies, and cross-strait organizations. They will examine Taiwan's opportunities and challenges. They will formulate practical responses. They will examine the issues from a strategic perspective. They will establish priorities for the nation's development. They will focus on what is most urgent and what is most doable. The talks will provide insights and provoke passions. They will help the nation and society find its way.

Many things must be accomplished in order to transform Taiwan's economy. Time is limited. Real results will require a concerted effort from all sectors of society. It will require an attitude adjustment from the entire system of government. After all, the summit is a private sector initiative. The real challenge is to inspire changes in the thinking of government policymakers. This change must begin from the heart. Only that can provide a basis for policy recommendations. Only that can become the most important force for change.

The public has voiced its objections and made its demands. The government must respond in earnest. One. It must not be overly suspicious. Governments often assume entrepreneurs only seek government benefits. This generates layer upon layer of bureaucratic hurdles. These bureaucratic hurdles waste time, manpower, and materiel. They also limit possibilities. The government bears responsibility for the prudent use of national resources. More importantly it bears responsibility for national prosperity. Therefore besides preventing corruption, it must rejuvenate the nation's economy. Only then will we have a future.

Two. Do not think too much in terms of personal advantage. The recent brain drain has government and academia deeply concerned. The Council of Labor Affairs may even be renamed the "Ministry of Human Resources." We should look at the issue from the perspective of talent development rather than working conditions. Business people are also worried about industrial development. Ministries and departments should have an Industry Development Division. They should give greater consideration to industrial development and not just industrial regulation. Before the capital gains tax was proposed some people suggested that the Ministry of Finance be put in charge of the capital market. But capital markets are not its metier. The suggestion may have be motivated by self-centered thinking within government ministries. Such attitudes have become barriers to national progress.

Three. Do not harbor a "shirker" mentality. Do not automatically say no to complex and difficult tasks. As Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou said, if one cares, then any task, big or small will be difficult. Because if one insists on doing a good job, the task becomes difficult. But conversely, if one cares, then any task, big or small, will get done. Because if one insists on doing a good job, the task becomes doable. Taiwan is in dire economic straits. But recall the history of Taiwan's development. When has Taiwan ever not been in dire economic straits? The question is not whether we are in dire economic straits. The question is how much we care. If we care , the task will be difficult. But if we care, the task will be doable. The government has no right to complain about the diffculty.

The nation is beset by problems from within and without. This summit may be able to exert some influence. We hope the summit will inspire enthusiasm, thought, and team work. We hope it will inspire change and move Taiwan in the right direction.

實踐願景：共赴台灣經濟卓越之路
【聯合報╱社論】
2012.06.25 02:54 am

《關鍵兩年──為台灣經濟開路》高峰會今日登場，是聯合報系願景工作室繼上周《關鍵兩年，台灣快轉》跨國系列報導之後，為此一願景工程砌起的第二塊磚。

系列報導是在呈現問題，高峰會則期望凝聚社會共識、擇定策略，以共同創建「經濟轉骨，台灣卓越」的願景。

上周連刊五天的《關鍵兩年，台灣快轉》，經由與韓國、新加坡及香港等同是東亞中小型經濟體的比較，清楚勾勒出台灣經濟的四大事實：一、經濟發展深度、廣度、速度落後，在亞洲四小龍殿後；二、產業升級轉型陷入瓶頸，走不出代工宿命，產業優勢面臨威脅；三、兩岸經濟協議（ＥＣＦＡ）、自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）及「自由經濟示範區」等三大突圍政策，仍深陷圍城而停步不前；四、發展經濟所需的人才，亦正面臨流失危機。更值得注意的是，這四大事實之間互為因果，彼此影響，儼然已成必須打破、扭轉、導正的惡性循環。

專題報導見刊以來，我們收到了廣泛而且強烈的迴響。讀者主動來電鼓勵、打氣，肯定聯合報系的努力與用心；網路上的高點閱率及傳閱率，直接反映了社會大眾對台灣經濟現況的高關注度；產官學研各界精英亦以專業觀點提供政策建言，直接呼應《關鍵兩年，台灣快轉》的訴求；向以重口味批評時政的電視政論性節目亦拋開媒體競爭的本位，以此為題，參與議論。

這一切正是願景工作室在「形塑影響」時的預期過程，由此而進，今天舉行的高峰會即成為「策動轉變」的平台；期望經由與會賢達的智慧參與，共議未來兩年的優先經濟策略，進而促成台灣社會的正向改變。

《關鍵兩年──為台灣經濟開路》高峰會於此時此刻舉行，別具意義。第一，此項工程不是政府由上而下所推動，而是由民間媒體聯合報系願景工作室籌劃組織而成，向朝野提出建言；第二，聯合報系推動此項工程，立即獲得了產官學研各界熱烈及踴躍的指導與參與，如前副總統蕭萬長、前行政院長劉兆玄、台積電董事長張忠謀、宏碁創辦人施振榮等各界素負重望的領袖，皆願加入這個平台，可見各界對於國家當前政經情勢的關切，皆有當仁不讓的熱誠與使命感；第三，當前台灣經濟正處於外患內憂的夾擊之中，外有歐債危機未解、世界經濟動盪的不安，內有朝野對峙、國家虛耗的凌遲，而急劇變遷的國際局勢帶來的機遇與挑戰，更有待台灣朝野共同面對，此時登場的高峰會可謂正當其時。

今日高峰會的與會者將分別從政府、產業、外商及兩岸關係的觀點，檢視當前台灣面臨的機會與挑戰，以及相應的可行作為，並將從策略思考的角度，訂出國家發展的優先方向，著重於急迫性及可實現性；我們相信，會談的智慧與熱情的火花頗值期待，也必能裨益國家社會大未來的尋路問津。

台灣經濟轉骨工程要做的事是如此之多，但能夠掌握的時間已是相對如此之少；若要做出成果，既需社會各界的同心協力，更需整個政府體系的心態調整。畢竟，高峰會是民間的建言，它真正要挑戰並激發的其實是政府施政心態的改變，這種由「心」出發的改變，才是各種政策建議得以實踐的基礎，也將是驅動台灣正向改變的最重要的力量。

面對民間的諍諫與期待，希望政府能以三種心態真誠回應：第一，不要有過度「防弊」的心態。企業界面對政府時，常被誤為只想貪取政府的好處，導致行政流程上層層查核、交叉會審的關關卡卡又多又長，消耗了時間、人力、物力不說，也限制了很多的發展可能性。政府負有審慎運用國家資源之責，但更有國家發展之責；因此，防弊之外，更要興利，國家方有生機。

第二，不要有過度「本位」的心態。近來產官學界高度憂慮人才流失危機，甚而認為勞委會如果改名「人力資源部」，或許就能從人才發展而非勞動條件的角度看問題；對產業發展憂心忡忡的企業人士亦有謂，如果各部會都設有「產業發展司」，或能增加產業發展的思維，而非僅是監管；之前證所稅開徵案提出時也有一種說法，認為資本市場若仍是財政部主管，方案內容或有不同。這樣的說法不一而足，也不一定完全正確，卻一定程度地反映了部會間過於本位的思維，已成遲滯國家前進的阻障。

第三，不要有過度「拒難」的心態。亦即，面對複雜、困難的事，不要消極應對。這讓人想起鴻海董事長郭台銘的一句話，他說，只要在乎，不論事大、事小，任何事都是困難的；但那是因為在乎，想要做好，它就變得困難了。相對的，只要在乎，也就沒有做不到的事，因為在乎，想要去做好，無論成果是大是小，都已經往前走了。現在台灣經濟的處境當然是困難的，但回顧台灣發展史，那個時候不困難呢？因此，重點不是它有多困難，而是我們有多在乎。在乎它，它就難；也正因在乎它，就會排除萬難，政府沒有喊難的權利。

值此內憂外患之際，這場高峰會召開的本身，應當已有「形塑影響」之功；我們希望，高峰會引發的群策群力的熱情與思考，亦有「策動轉變」之效，將台灣帶向正向改變。