On the World
Observation / Tariff Behind Taiwan Elections
NEVATHIR
November 14, 2018
Alerted by rising costs accompanying trade war against PRC, affected Taiwan businesses promptly embraced PRC-friendliness as fascist KMT gains ground before Taiwan elections. Taiwan manufacturers with factories under PRC that already suffered from USA tariff did damage control to safeguard bilateral businesses, away from xenophobia fuelled by DPP, toward reactionary tranquillity.
For several decades, DPP promoted dreary diplomatic relationship between USA and PRC to consolidate xenophobia, which undermined Taiwan economy and relationship with Chinese people, even though PRC's oppressive agenda against Taiwan and Taiwanese was much less than persuasive. DPP sought to build support based on Taiwan culture, which would be less than convincing if serious conflicts with economics were properly understood. Fascist KMT may not hold majority, but DPP may lose arbitrarily.
Businesses suffering from USA tariff suggest DPP's cultural agenda should be reformed together with economic strategy. Taiwanese should vote for other political parties like Green Party as well to avoid being collectively taken hostage under KMT/DPP politics.
Since collusion is unlikely between USA and PRC, good diplomatic relationship between the two may benefit Taiwan with good business environment around Asia-Pacific. Taiwan should recognize its own economic status comes hand in hand with national power. It's unwise to harm Taiwan businesses via USA/PRC feud.
Even if reunification with PRC were on the table, good economic status might place the island under favorable arrangement.
The uprising of fascism doesn't make the island particularly attractive or valuable.
If Taiwanese habitually favors KMT/DPP politics at the expense of Green Party, etc., KMT/DPP must be reformed to deter fascists from power.
USA tariff against PRC hurts Taiwan businesses, whose habit is to turn to KMT for cross-strait security. KMT's records, like collusion with PRC, tend to favor fascists at the expense of democratic check and balance. Although progressive policies like Keynesian stimulus gained focus, KMT often favored conservative variants like NTD 3600 per head, not directly hiring unemployed people at acceptable wages. How to reform deserves serious consideration.
On the other hand, economic nationalism favored by DPP should be replaced with realistic globalisation agenda. Supply chains behind global businesses deserve attention beyond the scope of Taiwan nationalism. Not to say nation building upon xenophobia is sick at best.
There are plenty of issues for a democratic election to address. The decisive issue should not be as simplistic as whether tariff hurts Taiwan businesses or PRC more.