Taiwan for Sale ---- Sold

The 11th largest economy in the world, and the 8th most competitive country according to the new little badge of names to call Taiwan, is now the international whipping boy. "Why?" you may ask, and the answer is simple. Taiwan has sold out to China.

International respect is not gained by loosing the definition that creates a separation between you and other nations. Words like "ease of tensions" say a lot to the international community, and they suggest things like complacency. That's a great thing for business, except when you have a country in Taiwan's situation. If there is an international land dispute and people declare there is an ease of tensions, that means someone has won or an agreement has been made. It does not mean everything is status quo in a standoff.

The results of accepting this 'closer tie' with China are now becoming obvious. Other countries are slowly starting to enforce things like calling you Chinese on your passports (Norway and the US for example), although these problems are being 'rectified' as they happen, it should be a large concern. Why now are these countries doing this? Well, because the tensions have been eased and China is still insisting on its one-china policy.

There is a very crude but apt saying "either shit or get off the pot". If 7.6 out of every 13.1 people in Taiwan want to elect a president who couldn't even handle being the mayor of a city, as a response to what they think the previous president did, then my suggestion is you shouldn't complain about ECFA or being called Chinese, or your exports no longer being allowed to be labeled Taiwan ROC, or direct flights between China and Taiwan.


I call China the Propaganda Dragon. If you are Taiwanese, as some point or another you have probably had the conversation with someone in China calling you brother and trying to convince you that Taiwan is a part of China. Well those conversations are not just limited to Taiwanese.

China forbids clearance of ‘Taiwan’ exports
Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2010-05-23 10:24 AM    

Chinese customs in Yantian and Shenzhen, Southern China district required no terms such as ‘Taiwan’, ‘Taiwan, R.O.C.’, ‘Taipei’, or ‘Taipei, Taiwan’ appears on any documents for Taiwan exports, the Liberty Times reported Sunday.

Instead, these goods can only enter into clearance procedure with place of origin recorded as ‘Taiwan Province of China’, ‘Taiwan, China’, ‘Chinese Taiwan’, ‘Taipei China’, ‘Chinese Taipei, China’, or ‘Chinese Taipei’.

Economic vice Minister Lin Sheng-Chung pointed out that Taiwan and its counterpart across the straits are both members of World Trade Organization (WTO) and Taiwan is an independent tariff area recognized by the unit.

Lin was quoted as saying that “China’s requirements fail to comply with the regulations of WTO and such measures will influence the rights of Taiwan exporters,” as some Taiwanese manufacturers have complained extended period for customs clearances, interfered procedures and missing trade opportunities.

Lin continued that Taiwan will not allow such circumstances and will seek negotiation with China under the arrangement of Mainland Affairs Council, the report said.

One unnamed shipping affair supervisor who’s responsible for Taiwan exports clearances indicated that it was as early as 2005 that China Council for the Promotion of International Trade had formulated laws, stating all clearances paper for Taiwan exports on which should be noted as ‘Taiwan, China’ or ‘Chinese Taipei’. The regulation is now enforced rigorously, according to the report.