Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that continuing to invest in Taiwan is the only key to improving Taiwan's economy and that opening full direct links with mainland China is not a panacea to serve that purpose.
Chen made the remarks while giving a speech at the opening of an industrial technology research center of the San Yang Industrial Co., Ltd. in northern Hsinchu County. The company also introduced its new "RV180" model -- the world's first 180c.c. high-speed electronic jet injection scooter -- at the ceremony.
Calling San Yang a microcosm of Taiwan's industrial spirit and developmental process, Chen hailed the domestic enterprise as the best example of how a business has kept and nurtured its roots at home.
Dismissing the widespread rhetoric strongly advocating the establishment of full transport, trade and postal links across the Taiwan Strait to spur the domestic economy, Chen pointed to Hong Kong and Singapore as examples. Although the two economies maintain normal transport, trade and postal services with the mainland, he said that they are also affected by an economic recession. "The mainland Chinese market is only a part of the world's market, not the entire international market," the president declared.
Advocating setting up full three direct links with mainland China to help lift the domestic economy is just a twisted kind of wishful thinking motivated by politics, he claimed, pointing out that "globalization is not tantamount to sinosization, " and that "the links will not be a panacea to lift Taiwan's economy, as the mainland market is rampant with risks for investors." "Only continuing investment at home and improving investors' strategies will be the unique approach to bettering Taiwan's economy," he stressed.