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will all due respect, anyone who accepts this thesis, is very naive i've said the hard truth which unsuprisely got flagged > Taiwan is a puppet regime most o

• keepamovin 2y ago
  It's okay - I have definitely been naive and optimistic in the past with my views on some things and people, and maybe I'm doin the same thing here. There's certainly something to what you say. On the one hand you have power because you're making something in demand, but on the other hand, those demanding from you have more power in other ways. Giant catch 22, almost victim of own success kind of thing. Sometimes I think if Taiwan had not developed an in-demand economy, it would be left alone by major players to be more independent, ha! Another point of reflection regarding independence (from everyone, really, not just US) is the local politics. A reformer popular with young people who had practical (not ideological) policies, nearly became president last year, and it was covered almost not at all in the Western press, despite Taiwan's ostensible "importance" to the future. And now the guy is seemingly being punished for daring to upend the system, currently prosecuted for corruption regarding a construction project while mayor. Someone like that could have practically chosen to increase ties with China for economic reasons, but perhaps that would have angered the US or others. Conversely, maybe he would have angered the Chinese, because he was an unexpected variable -- instead of the traditional predictable polarities of two parties. I concur with your point about sacrificing interests of Taiwanese people - it seems that the middle class there is much exploited, with expensive housing, ineffective policies and some wage stagnation, while a few at the top get rich, and two parties keep playing the same song. What's to be done? I like to entertain these optimistic theses... it could be naive but I fee like: the Taiwanese got themselves to this position of some power, maybe they are figuring out how to use it, and I wonder how.
  • suraci 2y ago
    Are you a taiwanese? not many people here know about Ko Wen-je I don't think the reality allow taiwan to be the player but not the pawn on the table the best taiwan can do is trade itself for as many benefits as possible > Sometimes I think if Taiwan had not developed an in-demand economy, it would be left alone by major players to be more independent what does the US want from taiwan? the semiconductor industry and a frontline battlefield to contain China what does China want from Taiwan? unification, that's the highest priority for CPC, not the economy > the Taiwanese got themselves to this position of some power, maybe they are figuring out how to use it, and I wonder how. the semiconductor industry of taiwan, you think it's the power, but it's not, it's the treasure of taiwanese people, and between China and the US, only one does not intend to rob it from them for taiwanese people, the wisest choice is to trade with China by itself to preserve the treasure taiwan only has leverage when it faces china trading with china, taiwan itself is the leverage, taiwan gains peace and local industry, and it lost independence, liberty and democracy - but how can it lost something it doesn't have currently, taiwan is on its worst path, trading with the US, gave its most valuable treasure away for nothing just think what the deal between taiwan and the US could be? - Hey, can you please don't rob my industry? - what will you give to me? here, taiwan's only option is to fight against china for the US but, of course, if you values 'democracy and liberty' as the treasure, things will be very different
    • keepamovin 2y ago
      Tho I get how it must feel like that sometimes to TWese people, to me this sounds too much of "Hide your strength, bide your time" deception, too much convincing about the supposed weakness of Taiwan, at a time when it clearly has strengths. If TWese had an advantage from this they wouldn't want to show it, probably. I'm asking as I'm curious to know what they might be using it for and if it's real. Not saying there's no truth to your telling of it as Taiwan as the 'victim of the world', and exploited from all sides, but that also sounds too extreme. The blame pointing also verges into "don't suspect us, we are a victim, we can do no wrong" zero-responsibility thinking that if not carefully handled can serve to simply mask wrongs done there, such as the Ko debacle for instance. On the whole I think your practical grounding in what's in TW's interests is probably correct and aligned with how many practical people think there. Funny second order effect of the US "request" for TSMC treasure stateside, is how this short-term win for the US will likely only push the TWese toward CN more so. Tho perhaps this is still aligned with US calculation of TW as a pawn, whose loyalty or not was never really valued, nor even expected long term, history being what it is. I agree TW is playing in a game that's not so much about it, but about the other, "bigger" players - but I'm just genuinely wondering how is TW planning to use this to its advantage, at a time when the world is trying to beat a path to its door, and it is clearly positioned at the nexus of great power competition along multiple axes: AI, politics and strategic land. The question is sincere, tho I get it's not strategic for any revelations. They are clearly interested in power despite their humble appearance, else they never would have created such in-demand economies and played the dual game as they have. I hope to see some thinking about Taiwanese reckonings on this, beyond the somewhat simplistic "TW is universal victim" muddy thinking. I appreciate how you brought my attention to that side of it, as well as the practical implications of the negative sides of TSM corp's success, thank you! Important question: "TW got the game to this point, what's their play now and why?" I am not TWese but I am curious about the happenings there. I think it's important what happens in Taiwan's story - not just because it's a bit of a barometer of and prism for the China-US relationship, but also for its own journey! :)