Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
officials wanted to modernise and expand their tea growing industry, for example, they
simply flew to Taiwan and offered land and loans to hundreds of farmers.
Identity Questions
In recent polls on national identity, 95% said they considered themselves either
Taiwanese exclusively or Taiwanese and Chinese (with the latter usually referring to eth-
nicity and not nationality). Only a tiny percentage considered themselves Chinese only.
This is a massive change from 20 years ago, when less than 17% considered themselves
Taiwanese. More and more locals identify with Taiwan as both their nation and home-
land and resent China's persistent moves to block their participation in international
events and organisations (unless under the name Chinese Taipei).
Interestingly, the election in 2008 of Ma Ying-jeou, a KMT leader committed to closer
ties with China, has not dampened this momentum in the least. Nor has it dampened real
desire for independence. Though most say they support the status quo (de facto inde-
pendence but no formal declaration), when asked how they would choose if they were
not worried about China's response over 75% say they would vote for formal independ-
ence.
But China's response does matter, and its repeated threats of invasion should
Taiwanese vote 'the wrong way' has its influence. In the 2012 election it became clear
that Taiwan's major companies and business leaders had also decamped to the unification
side, with some openly warning their employees not to vote 'the wrong way'. If Taiwan
is to maintain its distinction and autonomy a consensus must be reached soon on how to
keep China at bay politically while at the same time developing trade and cultural ex-
changes.
The Other Big Issues
In addition to national identity and the economy, you can be certain to hear lots of other
issues discussed on the news and on the streets.
For example, Taiwan badly needs educational, judicial, police, health care, taxation
and pension reforms (current public-sector worker pensions would make pre-crisis
Greeks envious). Every move, however, has been countered or watered down by special
interest groups.
Rising inequality is another concern. Warren Buffet may note that his secretary pays a
higher percentage of taxes than he does, but according to reports by
Commonwealth
Magazine,
wealthy Taiwanese often pay less in real dollars than most workers by parking
their wealth in property and stock purchases (which are effectively tax free). This is
