Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Taiwan was once called Free China not because it was free, but because it was
a counterpoint to communist China.
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It is true that both instant noodles and bubble tea were invented by Taiwanese.
Best Blogs
TThe V
m Taiiwan(
http://michaelturton.blogspot.com
)
Excellent political
and social coverage by a long-term expat.
A Hun
e Viiew F
w Frrom T
A Hungrry G
o Taiipeii(
http://hungryintaipei.blogspot.com
) Food is an
obsession with Taiwanese and this blog highlights just why.
y Girl'
irl's G
s Guide t
uide to T
Best Religious Festivals
MMattsu P
ilgrriimageTaiwanese are devoted to their gods as this nine-day event in
spring makes clear.
Keelun
u Pilg
t FesttiivaalLike many cultural celebrations in Taiwan, this one has
been heavily localised and is a riot of colour and activity.
elung Gh
g Ghost F
The Mewling Tiger
Taiwan's economy once more than held its own against rival Asian Tigers South Korea,
Hong Kong and Singapore. But in the last decade it has consistently posted the lowest
growth, the least direct foreign investment and, more importantly, the lowest salaries.
Average salaries in South Korea, for example, are now 2.8 times higher than in Taiwan.
Where did it all go wrong? The story is still being written but a few clear themes are
emerging.
First of all there has been gross over-investment in China. Since the late '90s,
Taiwanese firms, with their advantages in language and culture, have invested some
US$120 to US$200 billion in China, but only a fraction of that at home.
There's also been a lack of R&D and business upgrading. Too many Taiwanese com-
panies moved to China for the cheap manufacturing rather than as part of a sophisticated
industrial restructuring. Now with wages rising in China, and firms there capable of
handling production (and design), many Taiwanese companies are finding themselves
outdated and unneeded.
Some one to two million Taiwanese have also relocated to China in search of better
wages and opportunities and this brain drain is only worsening. China is also directly
poaching skilled Taiwanese from industries it wants to develop. When Fujian province
