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Taiwan In The Asia Pacific

Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 8/21/2007

With a population of 22,901,897 and an area of 36,000 square kilometres, Taiwan is the model territory of people belonging to various religious communities, including Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Yi Guan Dao, Christianity and Islam. This is the territory, which for the last ninety-three years has maintained its unique identity in the Asia-Pacific Region, on the basis of equality and harmony

In Taiwan, people have staunch faith in democracy. By authoring a glorious history of democratic reforms they through multi-party system have adopted the republican form of governance and the sovereignty of this republic is vested in them, i.e. twenty-three million people of Taiwan.

Although, out of its total population, seventy-six percent of the people speak Taiwanese language but Taiwan is also a nurturer of international languages like English, and several other local languages. About ninety-six and a half percent of the Taiwanese are literate who have been drawing the attention of the world by continuous efforts in raising their standards of living.

The continuous rise in the standards of living of Taiwanese is mainly due to economic development. With a foreign reserve of 2,662.87 hundred million US$ and an average annual income per capita approximately US$14,203, Taiwan ranks as the 15th largest trading country in the world. It would, therefore, be contextual if we discuss here in brief the two major sectors – Agriculture and Industries, of Taiwan.

Like other Asian nations, agriculture is one of the principle professions of the people of Taiwan. About seven percent of the population is directly involved in this sector. Rice is the major crop, which is grown in an area of little more than 332,000 hectares and constitutes to a total production of 1.8 million tons. After this the second in number are the vegetables. These are produced in an area of 174,000 hectares with an annual production of 3,147,000 metric tons. Although more than one hundred kinds of vegetables are grown in Taiwan, but the main among them are bamboo shots, watermelons, vegetable soybeans, cabbages, garlic, cantaloupes, tomatoes, cauliflowers and beans.
In spite of tough competition at global level, sugarcane is also grown in approximately 32,000 hectares of land. The sugar for the local consumption in Taiwan is mainly sourced from this production. The production of fruits in Taiwan is also very good. Some 221,980 hectares of land is being used for the production of 2.62 metric tons of thirty different kinds of fruits including, apples, pears, bananas, mangoes, papayas, persimmons, loquats, guavas and wall apples.

Fishing and aquaculture is one of the major industries of Taiwan. In the whole of Taiwan, about 125,000 fisherman households are involved in this industry, which includes all five categories, i.e. deep-sea fishery, offshore fishery, coastal fishery, marine culture, and inland water fishing. About forty- two percent of them are indulged in costal fishing; twenty-six percent in inland aquaculture and the rest are involved in offshore fishing. Approximately 27,500 ships are used to carry the production of 1.33 million tons of fishing products including the offshore fishery on the waters within the economic zones of the territory, i.e., 12 knotical miles to 200 knotical miles from the coast by means of powered vessels. The total income from this industry is approximately US$ 2.80 billion per annum. According to information the aquaculture production, that was about 313,000 metric tons five years ago, has, now, increased by six and a half percent. Livestock industry has grown up to US$ 3.8 million business. This constitutes to thirty percent of the total agricultural production value of Taiwan.

By having 4.38 percent GDP Growth Rate and 8.5 percent Annual Growth Rate, the manner and the task in which the people of Taiwan have achieved great heights in the economic field through the above- mentioned two major sectors – Agriculture and Industry- are worth adopting and to be followed in the Asia-Pacific Region. It is on the basis of this progress that the problem of unemployment has also been successfully dealt with to a great extent. Not only (has) this but because of its economic development, Taiwan has been able to be a part of the World Trade Organization. Simultaneously, it has been able to secure its place in the world economy. Even in the atmosphere of regional tension, it has also been able to influence the Mainland China which can be judged by an information received through a reliable source from Beijing itself which mentions, “The business sector of Taiwan has an investment of approximately 35 or more billion US$ in the Mainland China.”

It is clear that in the economic field, Taiwan has emerged strongly and it holds a special place in the newly developing world economy. Being the centre of attraction in the Asia-Pacific Region, no one, including the Mainland China could ignore the economic achievements of Taiwan. It is on this basis that this country has secured its position in many leading World Organization, and especially the WTO.

However, moving on the path of development, many among Taiwanese get doubtful, anxious and fearful of their future. The stand taken by the mighty Mainland China is the reason of that. The reality is that this situation makes the whole Asia-Pacific Region anxious as far as the question of stability, peace and development in the region is concerned. Doubtfulness, anxiety and fearfulness are the biggest hurdles on the pathway of development. It is often that these elements are also troublesome for their origin source. The situation has changed world over now. This is the time for accommodation, interdependence and mutual co-operation. As such the liberal and wise Chinese rulers should think about Taiwan on the basis of goodwill and harmony. Harmony and goodwill are two such elements, which can ease any solution. The present President of Taiwan, Mr. Chen, too, has admitted the same view. On the other hand, stubbornness and an intention of using power cannot accord any last-long solution; it cannot make friendly relations and cannot gather any cooperation. This is the eternal rule, an ultimate reality. Experiencing this reality, the dictator like Adolf Hitler after occupying Poland, in 1943, admitted, “One cannot rule by force alone. Even in the land of other’s some one needs the local support.” Therefore, in the present situation there should be a positive approach from the People’s Republic of China on the question of Taiwan. Only such an approach would be beneficial not only for China but for the rest of the Asia-Pacific Region. This would also be essential for the People’s Republic of China to maintain its credibility and reputation in international affairs.