The gas pipeline explosions in Greater Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen (前鎮) and Lingya (苓雅) districts exposed several serious issues, such as the lack of distinction between central and local government authority and accountability, mismanagement of underground pipelines, confusion over corporate social responsibility and ethics, and the question of whether the government has the nation’s best interests at heart.
The incident highlighted the absence of clear divides between central and local government authority, accountability and competence. The lack of competence within the Greater Kaohsiung Government also reflects the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) lack of competence.
A government’s ability to govern consists of several key elements: professionalism, the ability to communicate, and leadership and administration. In this era of internationalization, globalization and information, government leaders must have a professional skill set that includes basic knowledge, an understanding of international affairs and a broad vision.
The DPP’s rise and growth were based on its push for the nation’s democratization. Despite its passion, the party’s first generation of leaders lacked professionalism, the ability to communicate, and leadership and administrative abilities. Unfortunately, most of its second and third-generation leaders also lack these skills, and this is the party’s biggest problem. Although the rise of DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is likely to partially remedy the problem, the party still has to overcome its populist, even anti-intellectual, orientation, or it will have no hope in the future.
In comparison, the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) leaders possess professionalism.
However, it must improve its administrative abilities and leadership. Also, it has a lack of love for the nation, which has led to recent government malfunctions and corruption cases.
The same applies to businesses, which should take social responsibility, especially publicly traded corporations and those closely related to the public’s safety as well as the nation’s political and economic development.
The upcoming generation of the nation’s business leaders share certain characteristics: many of them studied overseas, receiving a Western education, in particular, in technical and management training, holding dual nationalities, with most of their families residing abroad.
They are competent elites with sound business acumen, still, they have to develop a love for the land and their companies must show greater social responsibility.
The performance of TransAsia Airways and LCY Chemical Corp has been disappointing, and the second-generation business elites’ lack of love for the nation has played a key factor in this. This is something that must change right away.
Public participation is important in a democracy, but in practice the country is manipulated by political and business elites.
Today, national development no longer depends on one or two individuals; rather it is political and business elites who are crucial to national competitiveness, future national direction and public welfare. They must remain humble and constantly review and improve themselves to create greater happiness for the country and its people.
They should reduce the risk of disaster and improve crisis management while taking an active approach to aiding the government’s ability to rule and strengthen the social responsibility of businesses. This is the only way to put the country back on the right track.
Lin Chia-cheng is a former minister of examinations.
Translated by Eddy Chang
Trying to force a partnership between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Intel Corp would be a wildly complex ordeal. Already, the reported request from the Trump administration for TSMC to take a controlling stake in Intel’s US factories is facing valid questions about feasibility from all sides. Washington would likely not support a foreign company operating Intel’s domestic factories, Reuters reported — just look at how that is going over in the steel sector. Meanwhile, many in Taiwan are concerned about the company being forced to transfer its bleeding-edge tech capabilities and give up its strategic advantage. This is especially
US President Donald Trump last week announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on eight countries. As Taiwan, a key hub for semiconductor manufacturing, is among them, the policy would significantly affect the country. In response, Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) dispatched two officials to the US for negotiations, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) board of directors convened its first-ever meeting in the US. Those developments highlight how the US’ unstable trade policies are posing a growing threat to Taiwan. Can the US truly gain an advantage in chip manufacturing by reversing trade liberalization? Is it realistic to
The US Department of State has removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” in its updated Taiwan-US relations fact sheet, which instead iterates that “we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait.” This shows a tougher stance rejecting China’s false claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Since switching formal diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China in 1979, the US government has continually indicated that it “does not support Taiwan independence.” The phrase was removed in 2022
US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have each given their thoughts on Russia’s war with Ukraine. There are a few proponents of US skepticism in Taiwan taking advantage of developments to write articles claiming that the US would arbitrarily abandon Ukraine. The reality is that when one understands Trump’s negotiating habits, one sees that he brings up all variables of a situation prior to discussion, using broad negotiations to take charge. As for his ultimate goals and the aces up his sleeve, he wants to keep things vague for
RSS