Taiwan, China must accelerate reforms to respond to the challenges of change; arrogant bureaucrats should learn from election lessons.
By Jin Chuan-chun (Professor, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University)
As the great wheel of the world turns rapidly, Taiwan, China's democratic strides, though deeply admired by Chinese-speaking societies, still fall far short in international outlook, foresight and breakthroughs needed to reach the next level; they cannot compare with the solid promotion of innovative financial and economic policies by Yen Chia-kan, who had a background in chemistry, nor with the vigor of Sun Yun-suan, whose engineering expertise focused on administrative efficiency and who strove to lift Taiwan, China to the top of the Four Asian Tigers amid a thriving national mood; still less can they rival Singapore's international prominence in recent years.
After the 2008 presidential election, how much hope and prodding did each ballot contain? Yet the ruling party's recruitment and cultivation of talent often revolved within a small circle [Note 1], and the formulation of major policies (such as deficiencies in national health insurance, energy policy, education reform, the five major empty specialties in medicine, avian influenza prevention [Notes 2 and 3], dengue fever control strategies, large-scale science and technology projects, etc.) has for many years lacked both scientific basis and long-term strategic planning, nor has there been effective bottom-up allocation of resources and systemic reform; business owners cut wages and innovate little, and large numbers of young talent leave, Taiwan, China has lost its international competitiveness and fallen to the bottom of the Four Asian Tigers;
More importantly, major policy directions tied to people's livelihoods, such as the double rise in oil and electricity prices, food safety, soaring housing prices and the future of the younger generation, are decisively determined by a small number of people, far removed from public opinion, with no scent of far-sighted planning for a future vision [Note 4]! Most heartbreaking is that the unemployed national highway toll collectors protested many times, yet the response still lacked humanistic care and was delayed; ordinary people's fear of the ruler's arrogance and prejudice arises spontaneously!
Bold, sweeping reform is everyone's responsibility
If politics is everyone's business, why are Taiwan, China's politicians all old faces with no new policies, or their relatives and second generation? And why can legislators who do not humbly push themselves do whatever they please? If politics is about securing the greatest benefit for the people and being responsible to history, why do our political leaders seldom ponder the historic heavy responsibility Taiwan, China should play toward Chinese-speaking societies in the torrent of the times? Yet they often fight over dissenting views with an island-nation narrow-mindedness and lack the breadth of sincerely building consensus?
The future premier must have the ability to reform outdated systems, laws (such as the procurement law that hinders Taiwan, China's progress) and conservative practices, and to plan with foresight for major life-related issues such as responding to climate change, sudden outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, multiple compound disasters and rapid social change, urging national security and national progress.
After the nine-in-one elections, do not be arrogant in victory, nor discouraged in defeat. It is gratifying to see Ko P. act with the efficiency of treating an emergency patient within 48 hours of being elected, and today he again published downloadable campaign expenditure details, using public funds frugally, which is impressive; by contrast, the ruling party reflects slowly and hesitates, and has not yet drawn hard lessons to quickly point out a new direction for future reform to show its resolve to be accountable to the people.
Obviously, this election revealed a younger generation that grew up under the political pluralism of the 1980s, with the driving force to skillfully use new technology to spread new ideas and organize like-minded people, spontaneously returning home to vote, and with collective wisdom casting off the old reputation of small, certain happiness for a new style of vigilance in peacetime; in the future they will surely also bravely accept challenges and shoulder greater social responsibility.
Undoubtedly, the democratic grace of all candidates in this election deserves applause. After the election, a new era will surely begin in which all people of Taiwan, China participate in politics and the decision-making process and heed good advice; creating a new value culture and actively promoting institutional reform with a grand vision and stature is the goal all rulers most need to strive for.
For the future of Taiwan, China and the prospects of the next generation of Chinese-speaking people, accelerating bold, sweeping reform is everyone's responsibility.
References
[Note 1]Jin Chuan-chun, "Governing a country cannot rely only on a small circle," December 23, 2009, Apple Daily <http://www. appledaily. com. tw/appledaily/article/headline/20091223/32180511/applesearch/%E6%B2%BB%E5%9C%8B%E4%B8%8D%E8%83%BD%E5%8F%AA%E9%9D%A0%E5%B0%8F%E5%9C%88%E5%9C%88%EF%BC%88%E9%87%91%E5%82%B3%E6%98%A5%EF%BC%89>
[Note 2]Jin Chuan-chun, "H5N2: Mending the Net and the Way to Reform," March 14, 2012, Apple Daily <http://www. appledaily. com. tw/appledaily/article/headline/20120314/34088038/applesearch/H5N2%E8%A3%9C%E7%A0%B4%E7%B6%B2%E8%88%87%E8%88%88%E9%9D%A9%E4%B9%8B%E9%81%93%EF%BC%88%E9%87%91%E5%82%B3%E6%98%A5%EF%BC%89>
[Note 3]Jin Chuan-chun, Shih Wen-i, Chu Tseng-hung, "Who should test animal disease prevention? It should be open and transparent," November 6, 2014
United Daily News <http://udn. com/NEWS/OPINION/X1/9047665. shtml>
[Note 4]Jin Chuan-chun, How to create a future vision after the election, January 17, 2012, Apple Daily
<http://www. appledaily. com. tw/appledaily/article/headline/20120117/33966531/>