Taiwanese Urged to Deepen Ties with Asean

Taiwanese Urged to Deepen Ties with Asean
Source: The Straits Times Dec 18, 2009 (Fri) by Ho Ai Li, Taiwan Correspondent

Taiwan has to rethink its game plan in South-east Asia amid the intensive engagement of the region by China, Japan and South Korea, academics and the island's leader said this week.

Taiwan is in danger of being left behind when free trade pacts between Asean and China, Japan and Korea take effect in the next few years.

... The Government should help local producers market their goods globally, he (Dr. Chu Yun-Peng (朱云鹏), former Taiwan minister without portfolio) suggested.

“Ecfa (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement – Economic Pact with China) is not necessary good for Taiwan in the long term, but what is the alternative?” he pointed out.

market2garden: Future trends (15 to 20 years) nowadays are hard to predict as the capitalist world is increasingly complex and unpredictable. Let us (Expert of layman) focus on 5 to 10 years as “long term”. It’s time for world leaders to change the mindset of long term time frame.