A new poll shows Taiwan President Ma Ying-jou trailing his DPP opponent. Inequality, unemployment and close ties to China are complicating his bid for re-election next year.
A crack team of Taiwanese paratroopers hurtled to Earth from 5,000 feet this month. Their mission was simple: land in a targeted area in front of nationalist Kuomintang President Ma Ying-jou as he received military units marking the Republic of China’s 100th anniversary.
But like most things relating to Taiwanese politics, that’s easier said than done, and by the time Ma’s look of pride had given way to bemusement, six of the team had landed safely and the remaining six were unaccounted for – scattered to the wind. A few ended up on rooftops, some landed in an elementary school a few kilometres away, and one landed on a group of onlookers outside the Presidential Office.
It was a fitting, if somewhat embarrassing metaphor for Taiwan’s fractious political landscape and the deep divisions that will likely decide the winner of January’s upcoming presidential elections.
Aside from the paratroopers, Ma must also be bemused by the polls, which have him facing the real possibility of losing in January's presidential election.
A survey conducted by Taiwan's Global Views Survey Research Center found that Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, a 55-year-old former vice premier who is the first female candidate for top office in any modern Chinese state, has a slight lead on Ma, by 36 percent to 35.8 percent.
It’s a far cry from the last elections three and a half years ago, when Ma swept to power by 17 percentage points – an unheard of margin since free elections began in 1996. But that was at the death knell of the contentious Chen Shui-bien administration, which was wracked by corruption scandals and which drove US-Taiwan relations to all-time lows over Chen’s often combative stance towards China.
Since then, Ma has worked hard to thaw relations and focus on greater economic ties with its antagonist 180 kilometres across the Taiwan Strait, which it split from following Mao Zedong’s routing of Chiang Kai-shek’s ROC forces in 1949. Taipei and Beijing signed the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in June 2010, and have since ratified 15 economic, transport and tourism agreements.
But many analysts believe Ma’s cosier relationship with the mainland may hurt the incumbent with younger voters who perceive his willingness to deal with China as a sign he is bartering the island away and weakening its negotiating stance, particularly as the mainland occupies significantly greater economic and diplomatic space in the region.
This time up, Ma is also facing an opponent who has galvanized the youth vote and painted the island’s impressive economic indicators as Trojan Horses which don’t reflect the reality of the average voter. Tsai has also been effective at working Taiwan’s almost invisible dividing line running through the middle of the island by building stronger support in the traditional DPP stronghold in the south, while making inroads into the centre of the country, where most predict the election will be won. The KMT, as usual, should carry northern Taiwan and Taipei handily.
‘Ma’s polls started to drop over competence issues and his handling of Typhoon Morakot in 2009. Since then, income disparities, job uncertainties and socio-economic issues such as increased outward investment to China when jobs for young people are scarce have also hurt,’ says DPP spokesperson Hsiao Bi-khim. ‘The KMT likes to point to its GDP growth rate, but that’s a figure driven by the rich and enjoyed by them also. The wealth disparity in Taiwan is out of hand.’
Still, on paper, many of Taiwan’s recent economic achievements are certainly impressive. GDP growth for 2010 came in at 10.88 percent, the world’s fifth highest and a solid number given the island’s reliance on high-tech exports to a slowing United States and Europe. This year, Taiwan also racked up record export figures. It enjoys a healthy trade surplus, had the world’s fifth largest foreign reserves as of the end of August, was ranked sixth in overall competitiveness by Switzerland’s International Institute for Management Development, and was named the second-best investment destination in Asia by US-based research unit Business Environment Risk Intelligence.
‘We know the most serious problem is the inequality between the poor and the rich. But this problem is everywhere. We have moved to introduce a luxury tax and property taxes to slow property prices, which have been effective over the past quarter’ says Francis Yi-hua Kan, KMT spokesperson. ‘EFCA will prove to be even more valuable down the road because it will open up new free trade agreements that were blocked before we had a China deal, such as the Singapore agreement and more agreements with other ASEAN members.’
Photo Credit: OCAC Taiwan
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Frankie Fook-lun Leung
George Bernard Shaw said: Traveling only reinforces one’s prejudice. The more the Taiwanese interact with the Mainlanders, the more they realize they are not the same. Hence, not many Taiwanese, if the truth be known, really want Taiwan to be part of Mainland China. Even Deng Xiaoping’s One Country Two Systems is dropped from the lips of the Mainland propaganda machine. China has learned a hard lesson. If she takes up a position in favor of the KMT, it will have a boomerang effect: it helps the DPP. China and Taiwan and each of them have learned to play the game with more skill and delicacy. Just a carrot and a stick is not sufficient or effective for China. The dilemma Taiwan faces is this: if the Taiwanese economy has become so dependent on China’s, how can you convince your troops and other government agencies to maintain vigilance against a power which may one day conquer you. Ma has to walk on a fine line.
JUSTSAYNO
The Taiwan independence movement was far stronger a decade or two ago than today. Being called a “mainlander” was a popular insult back then. Today the term is hardly used anymore to insult people since the Mainlanders in Taiwan often live far better lives than the locals, and pretty much all of the upper tier of the Taiwan society have properties/businesses/lovers in China mainland. With more exchange between the two regions, the net impression of mainland China has been improving over the years. In contrast, those who are supporting independence movement today have a make up very similar to the Tea Partiers in the US. This group’s core supporters are mostly nationalist, xenophobic, and uneducated folks working lower end jobs whose fear of their jobs being taken by the outsource of the economy to mainland being the major reason why they support the movement.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter who wins because even if DPP wins both China and the US will put so much pressure on the new president that he/she must compromise heavily on pretty much any foreign policy. Taiwan’s economy on the other hand will decline only more. Taiwan independence movement is not only fighting against China but pretty much the entire world. At the very best Taiwan could remain the current status quo, which is what everyone other than China wants. Even for China, despite the occasional cries of reunification typically at some kind of public events, it will likely to prefer peace to armed conflict. Afterall politicians on both isles and the people who are calling the shots are rather content making themselves rich.
Huang
It is too early to say who will win the election at this time.
Who ever win will not neccessary change the climate on relations with the Motherland.
The future of Taiwan rests on better and practical inter-actions with the mainland.
The Province will eventually be added to the Motherland’s recently re-united list.
Anything other than better relations with the Motherland will not be helpful to Taiwan.
“One country,two systems” is the way to go for Taiwan as are Hong Kong and Macau today.
The people of Taiwan are NOT stupid- deep down, they know exactly what is good and what is NOT good.
Billy
You are so out of touch with reality and the Taiwanese people, quite the opposite the unwillingness to unite with China has grown despite Ma and the Taiwanese media every effort to move the people towards unification. The Taiwanese people do not want to belong to China, the self identity as being Taiwanese are growing stronger. There is nothing except in Ma wet dreams that indicate that the people will move towards unification.
You already know, that Taiwan has it’s own anthem, flag, constitution, army, economy, currency, laws, boarders as it has been this way for more than 60 years. That is not the definiton of a province. But perhaps you are just a bit to brainwashed to realize this.
Taiwanese know what China is and what it wants. Taiwan wants to trade with China as they want with the rest of the world. They do not want to put all eggs in one basket and be dependent on the communist regime, because thousands of missiles aimed at Taiwan always remind the people what China really wants, it is not peace it’s controll.
The opening up to chinese individuals to travel to China and the growing Chinese tourism has as well backfired because now the Taiwanese people and the Chinese people first hand experience that they are different from each other, they do not speak the same, behave the same, think the same.
So Huang please turn of CCTV, welcome to reality.
Yavor
I agree with you Billy, however let’s not forget the old ROC dream to rule whole China! Meaning that the island on his own has still the agenda to rule and they “secretly” hope to “convert” Mainland to democracy, unify and get the ruling again. The way to achieve that is through economic cooperation. However, as I stated it is a dream, more idealistic then realistic, but not impossible :. On the short term maintaining status quo is the best option for Taiwan. On the long run either unite with hopefully democratic China or seeking independence through support from other alliances. :)
Huang
@Billy,
As I mentioned,”Its too early to say”.
Also, as I am confidently wrote, Taiwan will return to its rightful place called “the province of Taiwan”.
Of course, you have a different opinion and I think there is nothing wrong with that because you are you and I am ME.
Ultimately, the future will tell who is correct on this matter.
Huang
CCTV is not a bad choice for news in China and occasional coverage on international matters as well. Even when you are not yet understand China as you should be by now, there is no harm in listening to the same story from two different perspectives(One from your usual sources and the other on CCTV,the Global Times,XINHUA NEWS,ChIna daily,and if you are interested in military news(PLA),just go to CNTV and search for yourself in Chinese of course).
John Chan
@Billy,
China wants to control Taiwan is no different from the Yankee wants to control the Confederacy. Both ROC and PRC are the governments of China, they just need to agree on the final format of the regime of China. The process of finalization is near the end.
The ill wishes of foreign imperialists and Japanese wannabes to sabotage the unification of Taiwan and China will fail. Meanwhile the American Spring will break USA into 6 pieces as the Russian predicted.
So Billy turn on CCTV and Al Jazeera to watch the reality of your nation, not the propaganda from the news outlet of the Black Information Network from the Westpac.
Oro Invictus
With the majority of the public in Taiwan now viewing the PRC’s various economic deals with them as only really benefiting the PRC, Ma and the KMT are going to be hard-pressed to keep any measure of favour with the Taiwanese public; their long-standing line that “closer economic ties with the PRC will benefit everyone” is going to work to their detriment, now that these “closer ties” have been established with Taiwan having very little to show for it.
What’s more, Tsai appears to be have a fair bit of integrity for a politician; granted, that is relative to other politicians, but it’s still something. If anything, she seems to be that rare blend of pragmatist combined with rational populist, which should be useful in preventing conflict while restoring Taiwanese sovereignty.
yang zi
Oro Invictus, I have doubts the poll data you referenced is from a fair source. but let’s assume it is accurate, it does say 57% want reunification if political and living standard is the same. this tells you how strong their independence feeling is. I still define them as the extension of regionalism. a pendulum will swing the other way.
The poll is also selective. aside from Mainland military intervention, it didn’t explore the economic side of it. Taiwan’s industry is facing pressure from Japan and S. Korea. Mainland market/investment is crucial to its survival, without China mainland, it will be squeezed out.
The bottom line is, the majority favors a status quo.
With the realignment of US asia security posture, Taiwan is making some understandable moves to protect itself. But I see some positive benefit for Taiwan and mainland to build a common cause, that is SCS conflict. it may seem to be a trouble brewing there, but it is one thing that make Taiwan and Mainland closer. So if @nirvana is reading this, he will have an eureka moment, Chinese 9 dotted line is for Taiwan reunification !
Oro Invictus
@Yang Zi
You might want to reread the article, as it says 56.4% would NOT want to be unified with the PRC even if the cultural differences and standard of living were similar. Also, they did include economic considerations if you read more closely (I’ll also include the statistics for the question you’ve misquoted):
Q4. If only small political, economic, and social disparity exists between Mainland China and Taiwan, do you favor or not favor Taiwan unifying with China?
Not Favor: 56.4%
Favor: 36.4%
NA: 7.2%
The paper the blogger is referencing was compiled by the principal investigator of the Taiwan National Security Survey for the NCCU Election Study Center, meaning it is a government sponsored paper for the top political sciences university in Taiwan (the name of the university literally means National Political University). The fact that the KMT is also heavily invested in the school, meaning if there was any foul play, logic dictates the results would favour KMT party lines.
Also, on the topic of “fairness” do you really think its fair to use data from the VOA site, when I’m pretty sure you would disagree with a vast number of their polls focused on the PRC (I tend to avoid VOA due to its government associations, but I remember one poll which said something to the effect that four out five Tibetans were “completely dissatisfied” [or something like that] with PRC rule); you can’t just pick and choose when sources are reliable just because it suits you.
yang zi
Oro Invectus, I am happy to correct my reading of that data. but if you are accusing me of choosing data, you are doing the same.
I don’t really have a bias to data. the more accurate the better. even if it is bad news. because if anything, truth helps you.
I do think Taiwan is getting closer to China, and it will be reunited if you like it or not. the question is , what if people in taiwan doesn’t like it, the answer is very hard, it involves maneuvers and compromises.
yang zi
@Oro Invectus, now you forced me to read the original paper by that pollster. I think his data is not reliable. the method is simple, his numbers doesn’t add up. if you take his numbers from independence question in the early part of paper, compare it with 4 independence questions, you will know what I mean. I think his data sample is flawed.
Oro Invictus
@Yang Zi
Pray tell then, if the Taiwanese government’s surveys aren’t a good source of polling data for the opinions of the people of Taiwan, what is? I have to know, so I can inform the Taiwanese that these people are apparently unqualified despite being the same people in charge of tallying the actual votes come election day (as they have been since free elections began in Taiwan).
Honestly, you do know I read through the paper as well? So, you see, saying insubstantial and nebulous things like “these numbers don’t add up” won’t cut it with me. What numbers? Why don’t they add up? These are the sorts of details I’m going to need if you want me to take you seriously; right now, you are really just grasping at the thinnest of straws.
Also, in regards to your bit about the PRC “getting closer to” Taiwan, there’s already terms in existence for when one country subsumes another when the populace of the subsumed country wishes against it: Invasion, aggressive annexation, non-consensual assimilation, etc. Basically, the same thing Hussein did with Kuwait, Stalin did with Finland, Aemilianus with Carthage, and so on and so forth. The fact you and others who support the CPC are so ready to disregard the feelings of the Taiwanese people just for your own pugnacious fantasies of control puts you directly among the ranks of the aforementioned.
ozivan
@Oro Invictus. You said to Yang Zi : You might want to reread the article, as it says 56.4% would NOT want to be unified with the PRC
I am a bit disorientated on the discussion between you and Yang Zi. Where is this figure 56.4% mentioned in the article ? Or is it in another link ?
I re-read the article by author Cain Nunns 3 times.
yang zi
–@Oro Invictus—
Hope you can see my reply. This is the reason I say the numbers does add up.
In the first section of poll it has following
———————-
1. to seek independence from China quickly (4.4%)
2. to maintain the status quo now and seek independence later (18.5%)
3. to maintain the status quo indefinitely (28.1%)
4. to maintain the status quo now while deciding what to do later (37.3%)
5. to maintain the status quo now and seek unification later (8.0%)
6. to seek unification with China quickly (1.4%)
7. no answer (2.3%)
—————————
From this poll, you know seeking independence no matter what population is 4.4% + 18.5% = 22.9%, the status quo + deciding later + unification is 74.8%. (add 3,4,5,6).
so 74% of people don’t want to say independence (some want the option, but not willing to decide it now).
Ok, let’s look at the second set of number
——————————————
Q1. If the act of declaring independence will cause Mainland China to attack
Taiwan, do you favor or not favor Taiwan independence?
Not Favor: 60.8% Favor: 30.5% NA: 8.7%
Q2. If the act of declaring independence will not cause Mainland China to attack
Taiwan, do you favor or not favor Taiwan independence?
Not Favor: 18.4% Favor: 74.1% NA: 7.5%
Q3. If great political, economic, and social disparity exists between Mainland
China and Taiwan, do you favor or not favor Taiwan unifying with China?
Not Favor: 76.5% Favor: 16.4% NA: 7.1%
Q4. If only small political, economic, and social disparity exists between
Mainland China and Taiwan, do you favor or not favor Taiwan unification with
China?
Not Favor: 56.4% Favor: 36.4% NA: 7.2
————————————–
Mind you, when they were asked first set of numbers, they know Mainland will attack if Taiwan declare independence, so the Q1 answer should be 74% not favor (from the first set of questions), not 60.8%. this why I say the numbers does’t add up, and I think this is also why the blogger said this is a work in progress.
Oro Invictus
@Ozivan
It isn’t a question as to who ran the numbers, the question is who did the survey; of course a pro-DPP paper would publish these results if they were favourable, that doesn’t change the results themselves. It’s like I was saying before with Yang Zi and the VOA news, he picked the news which related polling data suggesting Ma 10 points ahead of Tsai, but chances are he wouldn’t immediately link to other VOA articles on the PRC because they make the PRC look unfavourable.
It doesn’t matter who decides to relay the results, it is the results themselves, and the fact they are sourced and confirmed as being from the NCCU Survey means it was conducted by the same group of people who end up counting election results (who, unless you want to get into polling fraud which is a bad can of worms to open when this discussion also involves the PRC, are therefore the most accurate source of pre-election opinions).
@Yang Zi
The numbers still add up just fine, as these results are from two different sets of polling questions; the first provided numerous alternatives to simply declaring independence or not, while the latter only presented a choice between independence or no independence, unification or no unification. The reason this is important to note is that, combining the results from the two polls, it suggests the general opinion is still heavily in favour of independence for Taiwan, de facto or otherwise. The first set of questions provides the specific ideas for Taiwan’s future as desired by the Taiwanese, the second set provides the overall direction (which is why binary or quasi-binary questions like these are often used as follow-ups in public opinion polls).
However, even if we just consider the first poll, it clearly shows the Taiwanese don’t want unification with the PRC; 51% either want outright independence or perpetual status quo (items 1-3), only 9.4% want unification (be it immediate or otherwise, items 5 & 6), and 39.6% are undecided (items 4 & 7). Thus, even if all the undecided ended up deciding they want unification (which is extremely improbable, as I will expound on below), the majority would still not want unification.
If we now consider the second set of questions, we can also gain an idea of where the undecided votes would go, with the majority being the status quo (given that, for questions 3 & 4 the vast majority do not want unification no matter what) and the second highest being independence (given the aggregate results of questions 1 & 2 favour independence).
Questions 1 & 2 are especially noteworthy, since they basically indicate that the Taiwanese don’t demand formal independence almost solely because the PRC is threatening them with military action. Even then, more than 30% still think Taiwan should outright declare independence even under the threat of military action; basically, this means that unless the PRC plans to invade Taiwan, there is going to be no peaceful unification because that’s not what the Taiwanese want (albeit, it would be a short-lived invasion given it would face immediate censure from the majority of nations across the world as well as almost certainly be stopped quite early into things by American and NATO-allied forces).
You can try and put the poll results anyway you want, but it’s pretty clear what the Taiwanese want, and it’s definitely not unification.
yang zi
the cries, scary scenarios and lies, you guys are really something. all the major polls show Ma is leading 10 points, now this author is jumping up and down for a fake poll.
expect the-diplomat have more articles about Taiwan as the election nears. the restless bunch is really desperate. I hope all you guys get naturalized as ROC citizen, so you can vote Ma out of office. after all, you are all Taiwanese, right?
Michal
“all the major polls show Ma is leading 10 points”
and now who isn’t telling the truth? btw would you care to define “major polls”, that one designed by CCP PSC? :) All polls shows that it is neck to neck and whoever will win, it will be by a small margin. I live in Taiwan, how about you? My guess is that you have never been here…
Yang zi
I did go to Taiwan once, but that’s not the point. All the most recent polls third party polls show Ma is leading and the gap is expanding. Please give me a link on the most recent polls, I will be happy to correct my number
Oro Invictus
@Yang Zi
I’m not really certain how one could misread the data presented in the blog, when the poll results referenced in the article make it pretty clear that if the PRC wasn’t threatening military action, over 74.1% of those polled think that Taiwan should declare formal independence; interestingly, almost a third feel, even if the PRC should attack, that Taiwan should declare independence anyway. Add into this that the vast majority feel there should be no unification no matter what and it serves as a fairly clear example of Taiwanese positions on the matter.
While it’s true that less scrupulous elements can misuse and skew both the mechanics of the polls and their results, polls can and are a necessary and important means of gauging opinion; the large sample size, random sampling, and history of reliable data from said polling group attest to the likelihood of these polls being a good indication of Taiwanese public opinion.
Huang
@oro evictus,
Polls and statistics are commonly used in the West and a few other Democractic countries to get a likely picture or predicting any likely outcomes. Were these approaches accurate or effective? Sometimes they do and they are sometimes ways off the marks.
One realistic and un-changable fact with regard to Taiwan is they will not and would declare independance no matter what the opinion polls reflected. All political groups in Taiwan know fully well the CERTAINTY of what will followed once Taiwan is on the verge of annoucing its independance to the World.
As Comrade Deng Xiaoping reiterated ,” the unification of Taiwan with the Motherland shall proceed peacefully and patiently,and shall rule-out the possibility of using force on the issue of Taiwan”. Hence,Taiwan’s politics could realm within the boundary of local politikins, any attempts to establish an independance state is out of the question.
Finally, cross strait relations should narrow the gap and fuse the natural bonds severed only by political and sentimetal differences all of which will be equalized in the very near future.
The population in Taiwan(Southern part of the island) were somewhat isolated from their brothers and sisters on the mainland for some time and it will requires sometimes to adjust to the new reality.
Finally,the DDP and the KMT will both be working toward increase understandings between the island province and the Motherland. There will be NO other alternatives! This is the only way forward.
Yang zi
The author uses a poll that is month old. According to Voice of America, Ma is leading by 10 point, this is the latest poll.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20111018-Taiwan-ELECTION-132038118.html
Oro Invictus
@Yang Zi
Ummm… You are aware that Global Views has shut down polling for about 90 days at the KMT’s behest, right? Which means that all polls are now basically rendered extremely unreliable? And that the last poll from before Global Views’ hiatus put Tsai about 4 to 6 points ahead of Ma?
I’ve included a good link below (albeit, you can really just go on Google and search for the whole Global Views issue); it’s a blog, but the fellow is very proficient in providing numerous links and sources, and his commentary is pretty good.
http://michaelturton.blogspot.com/2011/10/paper-on-parade-emerson-niou-china.html
yang zi
@Oro Invictus, thanks for the link. very good blog and the data referenced.
Polls are very easy to manipulate. a fair poll is crucial. I have no idea why Global View stops polling (oh yes, i need to google).
I am curious to know what is the liberty times poll (a DDP paper) look like. My feeling is the 10 point lead of Ma is real. but there are still 90 days left.
I want to point out your misunderstanding of the data in that blog. That data said any economic deal benefit PRC is refering to the political benefit, not economical. I think the majority of people in Taiwan accepted the deal, that is to get economic benefits, in exchange, let PRC have its wish to have a more integrated Taiwan straits.
Chinese has a tradition of regionalism, self governing and mind their own business mindset. People in Taiwan is the same. They just want to have a quiet and peaceful island to mind their own business. They are not anti-China, they are not willing to change their way of life either. you may hear people say anti China things, but those are just regionalism at its worst, with a modern nationalistic flavor. People in US often don’t understand this, they think they can have a anti China ally in DDP, they will not get it. Taiwan will play US and China for self protection, it will not go out of its way to harm China.
CCP is getting smarter, just let them be.
Oro Invictus
@Yang Zi
Misposted my reply under your first response to Michal, please see there for my comment.
ozivan
@Yang Zi & Oro Invictus. The Global Views survey provided by the author was an article that was picked for publishing by the Taipei Times on October 13, 2011.
I have for the last 10 years or more been following online Taiwan’s news from 2 newspapers; that is, The Taipei Times which is obviously slanted for DPP and the other is The China Post which is equally slanted towards KMT.
Both newspapers are directly opposing to each other and are fond of publishing articles that serve their own agenda. That’s how I see it.
ozivan
@Michal. I live in Taiwan, how about you?
Would be interesting to know whom do you predict will win in the coming elections ? KMY Ma Or DPP Tsai ?
Huang
The DDP’s brief and un-disciplined behaviors have past their effects and fervors since the end of former DDP President. Chen(who is now jailed for corruptions). The DDP’s existence was nurtured and managed by the US’s Taiwan strategy even before the end of Chen Kai Shek’s son regime when the pretender of KMT successor Mr. Lee Deng Hui was installed as a new path for the DDP mess that followed. The strategy had failed and US planners have already re-focusing their objectives on other feasible ventures as we speak.
Merely observing that character Lee DengHui’s transformations/mutations(dis-respectfully put) from the quiet,smiling(not natural or sincerely),and outbursts(like a child) about the annoucement of Taiwan independance was enough to predict the doom of the DDP. ” A fish needs clean water and the right temperature to survive ” and the DDP resembles a fish that was mired in the quickly drying mud hole.
Whats lacking at this point are the long over-due understandings and acceptance of the Chinese decendents(most of whom have no immidiate relatives on the mainland)toward what the mainland is NOW(Not 100 or 50 years ago as preached to them by non other than separatists). The road ahead will be long and bumpy as expected. Efforts and hardworks contributed by members of the working groups on both sides of the strait will produce possitive results in due time.
The “One country,two sytems “out-lined by comrade. Deng XiaoPing remains in effect for peaceful,timely,and smooth advance toward the historic occasion of unification.
Finally, trades and other economic co-operations will enhence the economic healths on both sides of the strait long into the future as is the case between China and ASEAN nations. “Its a win-win situation” as echoed by some Chinese officials.