Input: Yes, therefore, as a local media in this city, it should become a proactive participant when there is a public emergency in the city.


Input: Yes.


Input: It should play its individual role in the process of resolving emergencies.


Input: Ah, apart from this, Professor Zhou, what do you think are the areas for improvement for a city, especially a booming city, when handling this kind of public emergency?

Zhou


Input: Right, I think this gave us many revelations, ah.


Input: First, I think one that should be especially important is early warnings and forecasts.

First


Input: This is because currently, there are, ah, frequently various kinds of risks lurking in cities, ah.


Input: Early warnings and forecasts.


Input: Yes, this kind of early warning and forecast mechanism.


Input: Uh-huh.


Input: It is not only for, this kind of sudden road cave - in, it also includes, for instance, security incidents, ah, in our society, as well as natural disasters, ah, and including public health incidents.


Input: Uh-huh.


Input: That is, this kind of scientific early warning and forecast mechanism must be set up.


Input: Uh-huh.


Input: In this way, you can manage and resolve an abnormal situation by turning it into a normal situation, without evolving into a sudden public emergency.


Input: Uh-huh.


Input: Another thing I want to say is that besides, ah, emergency response and speedy integration mechanisms, I think some corresponding improvements should be made to the release of information, incident investigation, ah, and the relevant post-incident, responsibility system.


Input: In fact,, that is, we should say that the government already has quite a number of relevant systems in this respect.


Input: For instance, we have an administrative investigation system for incidents of major responsibility.


Input: We have regulations on investigation procedures for very major incidents, as well as others such as emergency response methods for handling public health incidents and public health emergencies, among others.


Input: That is to say, we have many corresponding systems.


Input: However, the question is how city management, er, handles these various kinds of perhaps unpredictable cases.


Input: Since we are entering new circumstances of human living, circumstances that contain high risk and have an increasingly developed urbanized life, well, I think corresponding improvements should be made to the formation of a series of systems that includes scientific planning, early warning and forecast, emergency response, accident investigation, and accountability.


Input: Um, well, based on your understanding of the situation, and from an international perspective, what are some better ways of urban management that are worthwhile for us to learn?


Input: I think, in comparison to China, we should say that urbanization in foreign countries developed earlier and is more widespread.

China


Input: Their level of development is more advanced than ours.


Input: Although the scale of our urbanization is currently expanding at a rate of 1% per year, I think, with our economic development being relatively backward, we actually still have many aspects of urban management to learn from foreign countries.


Input: For instance, many of the pipes involved in this incident were basic infrastructure, public utilities industries.


Input: With a background of liberalization, marketization, and privatization, how can the government strengthen supervision of public utilities industries?


Input: How can a safe, assured system be established?


Input: Well, we need to learn and manage this.


Input: Uh-huh.


Input: For instance, regarding information disclosure, well, our speed of information disclosure this time was very fast.


Input: However, we still have a lot of work to do in making the information disclosure, er, system more standardized, that is, to really implement a system of levels of responsibility.


Input: Well, we also need to explore how cooperation mechanisms between departments execute cooperation under normal situations and, well, how departments should cooperate with one another under these kinds of public emergency circumstances.


Input: Well, for some of our emergency contingency plans, well, ah, how will these emergency contingency plans withstand these tests?


Input: We know that currently, many ministries and commissions, as well as people's governments at the provincial level, along with those at municipal and district levels, have set up emergency contingency plans for public emergencies, but many of them have not been put to the test.


Input: Well, how will they undergo testing?


Input: These also include some of our command and policy - making systems.


Input: So, with the growth of urbanization and with more and more of such complicated issues, ah, I think there will be increasingly high requirements on the systems.


Input: That is, development of future systems is one of the top current priorities.


Input: How can we institutionalize our response mechanisms and make them into a system so as to ensure the lifestyle of people who live in such a large - scale city?


Input: The State Council has proposed a public emergency contingency plan, called One Plan, Three Systems.

The State Council

One

Three


Input: Uh-huh.


Input: " One plan " refers to the contingency plan, and " three systems " refers to systems of organizations, mechanisms, and laws.

One

three


Input: So, I think we still have a lot of work to do in these three areas of organizations, mechanisms, and laws.

three


Input: Yes.


Input: Well, finally, let's turn our attention to handling of the situation, ah, during the latter stages of the cave - in accident in Beijing.

Beijing


Input: Traffic, ah, can be said to have been directed, and is basically under control now.


Input: Well, following this, repairs have to be made on this road section where the accident occurred, including for many pipes.


Input: Well, Yang Yang, based on your understanding, how long will it take?

Yang Yang


Input: I think that the time really depends on how the overall repair goes.


Input: This is because exploration, assessment, and repair are carried out in succession.


Input: Therefore, regarding this work progress, to repair this road section in the shortest time, um, this will depend on the work progress.


Input: Uh-huh.


Input: This is because repair is probably not a matter of repairing the road surface alone.


Input: There is also an issue with many of the pipes below.


Input: Yes, the pipes below.


Input: Right, as it is winter, we know that carrying out construction during winter, especially that which requires pouring concrete and then --


Input: Moreover, it is especially difficult for concrete to set during winter.


Input: Yes, preparation mix for making it dry faster, has already been added.


Input: But in the end, it requires time.


Input: Hence, it depends very much on factors like temperature.


Input: Just now, you mentioned that there are many pipes, ah, for instance, there is a key heating pipeline.


Input: The first thing is to ensure that it is connected in time.


Input: Yes.


Input: In addition, waste discharge is also very important.


Input: Waste discharged has currently blocked this up.


Input: Um, and, for instance, optical fibers, ah.


Input: Er, right now, if the optical fibers break, people in many households will not be able to watch television.


Input: Yes.


Input: At present, we should not have a problem with watching television.


Input: They are not broken.


Input: It is just that, as the other pipes have to be repaired, the optical fibers have to be rearranged, to be hung up it seems.


Input: After that, or it seems that a few steel pipes have been added below to make it safer to walk across this section.


Input: Furthermore, let's take water pipes as an example.


Input: Because they were exposed, The water pipes were not --


Input: after that, yes, these were not damaged.


Input: they were not damaged and this is quite normal.


Input: Um, there is no problem with water supply.


Input: Okay, well, today both of you have come to the studio and given us a lot of specific details concerning this road cave - in accident in Beijing Municipality.

today

Beijing Municipality


Input: At the same time, you have also analyzed, from a system perspective, how the government has reinforced emergency contingency plans to handle such public emergency cases.


Input: Okay, thank you very much, Professor Zhou and Yang Yang, for coming to the studio to participate in our program.

Zhou

Yang Yang


Input: Thank you, both of you.


Input: Okay, dear viewers, that is all for today's edition of Focus Today.

today

Focus Today


Input: Thank you for watching.


Input: See you at the same time tomorrow.

the same time tomorrow


Input: Hello.


Input: Let's turn our attention to the weather.


Input: Today, we can use two words to summarize the weather in our country.

Today


Input: First, there will be a temperature drop over a large area, and next, there will be rainfall and snowfall in an extensive area as well.

First


Input: We see that except for some areas of South China, Southwest China, and Northeast China, many other places will be experiencing temperature drops.

South China

Southwest China

Northeast China


Input: In addition, there will be snowfall in the area from Northwest China to the Huang - Huai area through southern North China.

Northwest China

North China

Huang


Input: The east of Southwest China, as well as the Jiang - Huai area and the area south of the Yangtze River, will experience continuous rainfall.

Southwest China

the Yangtze River

Jiang


Input: However, southern North China and the Huang - Huai area will bid farewell to the snow tonight, ah.

North China

Huang

tonight


Input: Tomorrow during the day, snowfall in the Jiang - Huai area will stop, and there will also be less snow in Northwest China.

Tomorrow during the day

Jiang

Northwest China


Input: In addition, there will be rain throughout almost the whole of South China.

South China


Input: It can be said that there will be less snow in the north and heavier rain in the south tomorrow.

tomorrow


Input: Furthermore, temperatures tomorrow in many places south of the Huai River will fall by between four and ten degrees.

tomorrow

the Huai River

four

ten degrees


Input: Okay, let's check out the city weather forecasts.


Input: Beijing, overcast changing to sunny, 9 degrees below zero to 2 degrees below zero.

Beijing

9 degrees below zero

2 degrees below zero


Input: Harbin, sunny, 26 degrees below zero to 16 degrees below zero.

Harbin

26 degrees below zero

16 degrees below zero


Input: Shijiazhuang, overcast changing to mostly cloudy, 9 degrees below zero to 1 degree below zero.

Shijiazhuang

9 degrees below zero

1 degree below zero


Input: Jinan, overcast changing to mostly cloudy, 9 degrees below zero to 1 degree below zero.

Jinan

9 degrees below zero

1 degree below zero


Input: Nanjing, sleet changing to overcast, 3 degrees below zero to 3 degrees.

Nanjing

3 degrees below zero

3 degrees


Input: Hangzhou, sleet changing to overcast, to 4 degrees.

Hangzhou

4 degrees


Input: Fuzhou, light rain, 11 to 18 degrees.

Fuzhou

18 degrees


Input: Taipei, cloudy changing to showers, 13 to 19 degrees.

Taipei

19 degrees


Input: Dalian, sunny, 11 degrees below zero to 5 degrees below zero.

Dalian

11 degrees below zero

5 degrees below zero


Input: Wuxi, sleet changing to cloudy, 1 degree below zero to 3 degrees.

Wuxi

1 degree below zero

3 degrees


Input: Changzhou, moderate snow to light snow, 3 degrees below zero to 3 degrees.

Changzhou

3 degrees below zero

3 degrees


Input: Bangkok, cloudy, 26 to 35 degrees.

Bangkok

35 degrees


Input: New Dehli, sunny, 6 to 19 degrees.

New Dehli

19 degrees


Input: Seoul, overcast changing to mostly cloudy, 8 degrees below zero to 3 degrees below zero.

Seoul

8 degrees below zero

3 degrees below zero


Input: Tokyo, overcast, 1 to 6 degrees.

Tokyo

6 degrees


Input: London, overcast changing to light rain, 2 to 6 degrees.

London

6 degrees


Input: Moscow, cloudy, 18 degrees below zero to 13 degrees below zero.

Moscow

18 degrees below zero

13 degrees below zero


Input: Paris, overcast, 1 to 4 degrees.

Paris

4 degrees


Input: Vienna, moderate snow, 1 degree below zero to 1 degree.

Vienna

1 degree below zero

1 degree


Input: New York, light rain, 1 to 3 degrees.

New York

3 degrees


Input: Seattle, light rain, 4 to 7 degrees.

Seattle

7 degrees


Input: Washington, cloudy, 2 to 6 degrees.

Washington

6 degrees


Input: Tips for Getting through Middle Age


Input: -LRB- Laura Li / photos by Hsueh Chi - kuang / tr. by Jonathan Barnard -RRB-

Laura Li

Hsueh Chi - kuang

Jonathan Barnard


Input: Middle age and the changes it brings are like a revolving door.


Input: Many people peacefully go through it, growing wiser and losing their rough edges.


Input: A minority don't know whether to advance or retreat and get caught in it like a trap.


Input: Middle age is a time where one wears more hats than at any other time in one's life, when one's responsibilities are heaviest.


Input: As a result, the crises experienced by a minority of middle - aged people can involve a lot of other people, so their impact can not be overlooked.


Input: Middle age, those years between 40 and 60, is both the time of life of greatest glory and the time of life that's easiest to overlook.

those years between 40 and 60


Input: In comparison to youth or old age, the middle years are often thought of as the time when power, ability, wealth, and physical strength are all at or near their peak, so that one has no excuse for feeling melancholy.


Input: Even if there are problems, it is commonly thought that one should be able to resolve them by oneself, notes Chiu Chia - li, director of the Hwo Chyuan Pastoral Counseling Center, who has worked on many middle - aged cases.

Chiu Chia - li

the Hwo Chyuan Pastoral Counseling Center


Input: Social bias makes many of the middle aged afraid to discuss their problems.


Input: This is particularly the case for men, who generally find it difficult to talk about their feelings.


Input: But by keeping everything inside, they may cause irreparable harm to their health.


Input: In recent years cancer, sudden death and suicide have become all too common during middle age, which shows that the psychological problems of the middle - aged should not be overlooked.


Input: How do you safely pass through the changes of the middle years?


Input: Here are a few suggestions:


Input: 1. Live well at every stage of life


Input: Li Liang - che, a professor of psychology at National Chengchi University, looks at the question from the angle of developmental psychology.

Li Liang - che

National Chengchi University


Input: He points out that the path of life is continuous: everyone moves from infancy and childhood, to youth and middle age.


Input: Smoothly passing through any period of life helps make getting through the next period easier.


Input: In other words, the people most at risk during middle age are those who have had difficulties earlier in life.


Input: Foreign research shows that those with high social and economic status and with ample financial resources bear up better during crisis and have more ways to get out of trouble.


Input: Is it too late to start talking about these problems when you are already middle - aged?


Input: Chang Der - chung, an associate professor in the Department of Living Science at National Open University who worked at a counseling hotline for over a decade, argues that any step in the right direction is worthwhile, no matter when you start.

Chang Der - chung

Department of Living Science at National Open University

over a decade


Input: Middle - aged problems are rather predictable, and they're not hard to avoid.


Input: Are you worried that your marriage is growing stale?


Input: Then no matter how busy you are, you've got to set aside some time to be with your spouse.


Input: Are you worried about losing your job?


Input: Then start developing a second skill and get into the habit of saving and managing your money.

second


Input: Are you worried about how to care for your parents when they get old and sick?


Input: Then spend more time with them, and encourage them to get more exercise and take care of themselves.


Input: There are so many things to be concerned about during middle age that you had better get an early start.


Input: Otherwise, you'll end up being overwhelmed.


Input: 2. Start over


Input: In China it used to be said that middle age was the period when one was " heir to the ancient sages and the teacher of posterity. "

China


Input: But now times are changing so fast that perhaps the lessons of past experience are no longer suitable for solving today's problems.


Input: To assume a posture of superiority based on one's seniority will make one despised.


Input: Hence, it is necessary to cast aside one's old self and start over.


Input: Chiu notes that many middle - aged who have worked diligently for years to attain management positions look down on the younger generation for being reckless and disorganized, but they don't realize that creativity and energy may be ready to explode from underneath these flaws.

Chiu


Input: Stuck in the past and full of bitterness, they may end up getting discarded onto the scrap heap of history.


Input: With each new era, role models change.


Input: Until the new role models have been established, it is important to maintain flexibility.


Input: For instance, today's middle - aged Chinese women are the first to have obtained advanced degrees and to have come in contact with the women's liberation movement.

Chinese


Input: They set high expectations for themselves, but their disappointments are likewise large.


Input: Many women are torn between conflicting desires: to be good homemakers like their mothers and to have successful careers like their fathers.


Input: Their candles are burning at both ends, because they are trying to live up to two old role models rather than establishing a new one for themselves.

two


Input: Then there are men who insist upon being strict fathers and disciplinarians or staying at the same company until they retire.


Input: And there are women who are determined to play the role of the traditional Chinese wife and mother.

Chinese


Input: Ignoring the changing times, they place tremendous pressure on themselves.


Input: 3. Turn the focus from outside to inside


Input: Life is a process that moves from the " outward " to the " inward, " says Alice Lu, director of the International Family Life Education Center, getting to the heart of the matter.

Alice Lu

the International Family Life Education Center


Input: Lu explains that as children people yearn for the affection of their parents; as adolescents they want the affirmation of their peers; and as adults, they set their sights on educational qualifications, finding a good job, making money, marrying a good spouse and so forth.

Lu


Input: Everyone puts the emphasis on outward manifestations of success, and this emphasis on the glitter of outward achievement continues up to middle age.


Input: " By middle age, people have gotten from the outside world just about all they can, " says Lu.

Lu


Input: " What they haven't attained yet they probably won't attain ever, so it's not worth getting all worked up about it.


Input: This is the time of life when the doubts set in. "


Input: Many middle - aged people begin to ask themselves, " Is this really what I want?


Input: What has been the point of all my hard striving? "


Input: When the doubts come, some people continue trying to find answers from outside, thinking that everything would be fine if they could just change jobs or wives!


Input: But then they rashly switch jobs or foolishly get involved in an affair only to find that they've just made things worse.


Input: " In middle age you start to listen to what's going on inside, " says Lu.

Lu


Input: " It's the time of life when you start to hone your skills at conversing with your soul. "


Input: People ask themselves: Am I truly happy?


Input: Do I like the person I see in the mirror?


Input: Why?


Input: What dreams can I pursue?


Input: At this point, there is no longer any need to try to measure oneself against outside standards.


Input: Instead it's more important to accept oneself and attempt to find an inner balance.


Input: " One need not compare one's inner achievements with those of other people, " notes Chiu.

Chiu


Input: Everyone's circumstances and personalities are different, and they place different expectations on themselves.


Input: It's not a matter of being better or worse than anyone else, and there's no need to follow the currents of fashion.


Input: Everyone is unique.


Input: Morris Chang was in his fifties when he became an entrepreneur and founded Taiwan Semiconductor.

Morris Chang

Taiwan Semiconductor


Input: Many others at the same time in life have opted to take early retirement and find a guru in India, work as a volunteer, or do whatever else they want to do.

India


Input: In the modern age when people value different things, you can find a purely personal kind of happiness and success.


Input: 4. Realistically strive for one's dreams


Input: When focusing inward, many dreams that have long been discarded will end up floating to the surface.


Input: At such times, one should remember to ask oneself three questions:

three


Input: " What do I want? " " What can I do? " And " What must I do and have? "


Input: Chang Der - chung reminds people to think clearly about their needs, and then think about the costs.

Chang Der - chung


Input: Will meeting these personal needs necessarily come into conflict with meeting one's responsibilities?


Input: Is there some way that the two can be accomplished simultaneously?


Input: When facing problems at work in Taiwan, many people decide to change careers or even to pursue their fortunes in mainland China or Southeast Asia.

Taiwan

China

Southeast Asia


Input: Pursuing some dream of really making it big, many men use up their savings, leaving their wives as the sole source of family support and suffering loneliness in a foreign land.


Input: There's no right or wrong here, and there's no way to guarantee a venture will be successful, but beforehand one must at least be realistic and prepare oneself psychologically for all possible outcomes, so that one won't suffer losses larger than one can bear.


Input: " It is indeed the case that when one is young, one's quiver is full of arrows and opportunities abound, so that one can shoot at will, " says Chang by way of analogy.

Chang


Input: " Once you get into middle age, you've got to make every arrow count. "


Input: Chang explains that everyone has dreams, and that continually working toward those dreams is an excellent method of relieving stress at any age.

Chang


Input: Middle - aged people have heavy burdens, and sometimes they may feel as if they are suffocating under them.


Input: " But accomplishing a lot of little changes can bring about a big change. "


Input: If you make an effort to do what you can, you will immediately find that your burdens have been lightened.


Input: Chang cites this example: Say you hate being tied up by your work, and would like to go back to school.

Chang


Input: Why don't you try a weekend class?


Input: Maybe that would help to alleviate your anxiety.


Input: Or if you are a housewife, taking care of three generations and resentful that you can't go out and get the sense of accomplishment that comes with a full - time job, then maybe you could work as a volunteer in a community organization.

three


Input: This would both put you into contact with other people and help you gain a sense of accomplishment.


Input: And you can help to sweat off your middle - aged anxieties by making a habit of regularly exercising.


Input: What's more, don't worry too much about time being short.


Input: Remember that most modern people live long lives that can be divided up into many stages.


Input: In middle age, when you discover that your personal desires are coming into conflict with the demands of your family or society, decide which of your problems are the most urgent.


Input: Don't try to accomplish all of your dreams at once.


Input: Maintain an unhurried frame of mind and peacefully wait for opportunities to present themselves.


Input: 5. Change your perspective


Input: In middle age, one's life is already half over, and one has already amply tasted of life's fruits, both the bitter and the sweet.


Input: " I am thankful for the bad times, for they have given me more insight into life and a better opportunity to understand myself, " says Lin Hung - kuei, an I - kuan Tao devotee, who has studied the Book of Changes and fengshui.

Lin Hung - kuei

the Book of Changes


Input: Taking care of your parents, losing your job, illness and even being cheated out of money can be embraced as opportunities to experience life.


Input: They are lessons that the middle - aged learn from to become more proficient at the art of living.


Input: " By changing perspective, you can understand the insignificance of your problems, " points out Chiu Chia - li.

Chiu Chia - li


Input: It is very important to adjust your frame of mind.


Input: You shouldn't think that there is only one way that you can be.


Input: As long as you can accept yourself, then everything is all right.


Input: As for losing your job in middle age, some people make NT$ 100,000 and it's not enough.

NT$ 100,000


Input: Other's find that NT$ 20,000 is more than enough to support the family.

NT$ 20,000


Input: The problem is that by insisting on making NT$ 100,000 a month, you may pass by a suitable job that pays NT$ 20,000.

NT$ 100,000

NT$ 20,000


Input: Chang also notes that when people come to forks in the road when they reach middle age, they may look around in all directions and feel at a loss, but they've got to encourage themselves to keep pressing ahead.

Chang


Input: " Even if you feel uncertain, it should be a positive feeling of uncertainty. "


Input: At the very least, you've got to work hard at establishing a sense of direction.


Input: When Li Liang - che starts feeling sorry for himself, he uses the age - old method of considering those who are even worse off.

Li Liang - che


Input: Those people who are always complaining about their lot in life should take a walk around a cancer ward, " Li says.

Li


Input: Then they'll realize how lucky they are. "


Input: Chiu Chia - li, on the other hand, encourages the middle - aged not to close themselves off.

Chiu Chia - li


Input: They must get out and make friends, so as to get things off their chests and find support from each other.


Input: This makes it easier to get through the bad times.


Input: Finally, there is something that may seem a little cliched but is often very useful - namely the realization that things will get better, that tomorrow is another day.


Input: " Whether you are depressed or going berserk, it's important to remember that hormones are raging inside the bodies of the middle - aged, " says Chang.

Chang


Input: Much like rebellious adolescents, they may merely need to pass through into another stage for the sky to become blue again.


Input: Don't give up hope too early, and don't be afraid of asking for assistance.


Input: When you feel at a loss emotionally, the experts will be able to help.


Input: p. 18


Input: The shackles of midlife make middle - aged steps heavy.


Input: How can one escape from one's commitments to snatch half a day of freedom, and appreciate the world from a new perspective?

half a day


Input: p. 20


Input: -LRB- facing page -RRB-


Input: The middle - aged have dreams.


Input: If built on a solid foundation, they can make life more enjoyable and fulfilling.


Input: p. 22


Input: Is life getting you down?


Input: Go into the crowd, find things to do, and you will rediscover a sense of the value of life.


Input: Dongguan Gets Down to Business Taiwan Firms Embrace a Cantonese Boomtown

Dongguan

Taiwan

Cantonese


Input: From Hong Kong's airport, you can go straight to Dongguan on a Global Express bus.

Hong Kong's

Dongguan

Global Express


Input: With 27 departures a day, these buses run by a Taiwan firm out of Dongguan take Taiwan expats to their adopted home, which boasts the largest concentration of Taiwan firms in the PRC.

Taiwan

Dongguan

Taiwan

Taiwan

PRC


Input: Invoking the Taiwanese business battle cry of " victory to those who strive the hardest, " 20,000 - 30,000 Taiwan expats in Dongguan have in little more than a decade turned a county of banana and lichee plantations into a big city with exports behind only Shenzhen's and Shanghai's.

Taiwanese

Taiwan

Dongguan

Shenzhen

Shanghai


Input: How has Dongguan, this rising economic star, done it?

Dongguan


Input: What mix of sad and happy tales about Taiwan firms does this city have to tell?

Taiwan


Input: It's 10:00 at night, but the city of Dongguan in Guangdong Province is still hopping.

10:00 at night

Dongguan

Guangdong Province


Input: Cars clocking 80 kilometers an hour zip along roads that reveal hardly a trace of the farming villages that they linked not long ago.

80 kilometers an hour


Input: Taiwanese business people here run their factories like they drive their cars, in high gear.

Taiwanese


Input: The factories are lit up at night for overtime shifts.


Input: " We don't take much of a break for the Chinese New Year's holidays, " says Andrew Yeh, chairman of Dongguan's Powin Electric, which makes cable for the telecoms industry.

Chinese New Year's

Andrew Yeh

Dongguan

Powin Electric


Input: " By the morning of the third day we start up again with three shifts, just like any other day.

the morning of the third day

three


Input: We can't keep up with our orders and have got to squeeze five days of work into every 24 hours. "

five days

every 24 hours


Input: In the busy Fucheng district, you find the Taiwanese bars, covered from door to rooftop with flashing lights

Fucheng

Taiwanese


Input: The lights, like the karaoke singing within them, pulsate until dawn no matter the season.


Input: Inside there is a raucous crowd.


Input: A Taiwanese businessman down from Harbin boasts that his auto plant up in the northeast sits on a lot as vast as Taipei City and has a green light to sell on the domestic market.

Taiwanese

Harbin

Taipei City


Input: In another room a Taiwanese businessman based in Dongguan carouses with a party cadre from Yunnan who is trying to attract investment.

Taiwanese

Dongguan

Yunnan


Input: Ju Gao - jeng, a former ROC legislator who now has an academic post in Beijing, is talking to a reporter from Taipei about the ROC presidential elections - a hot topic of conversation on both sides of the Taiwan strait.

Ju Gao - jeng

ROC

Beijing

Taipei

ROC

Taiwan


Input: Amid all the merrymaking, one gets a sense of what Shanghai must have been like in the thirties.

Shanghai

the thirties


Input: In Dongguan at the turn of the 21st century, however, it is the Taiwanese business people who have been playing the leading roles.

Dongguan

the turn of the 21st century

Taiwanese


Input: High concentration of Taiwan firms

Taiwan


Input: Before the 21st century had even arrived, a bright economic star had risen over southern China.

the 21st century

China


Input: Ever since economic reforms accelerated on the mainland when Deng Xiaoping made a tour of the south in early 1992, four southern Cantonese cities - Zhongshan, Dongguan, Shunde, and Nanhai - have earned a reputation as the " four tigers " of Guangdong Province.

Deng Xiaoping

early 1992

four

four

Cantonese

Zhongshan

Dongguan

Shunde

Nanhai

Guangdong Province


Input: Dongguan leads the pack.

Dongguan


Input: " The year before last its total exports were third on the mainland, trailing only Shenzhen's and Shanghai's, " says Jiang Suwu, a graduate of Wuhan University's Chinese department who came south to work in the planning department of a Taiwan firm in Dongguan.

The year before last

third

Shenzhen

Shanghai

Taiwan

Dongguan

Jiang Suwu

Wuhan University's

Chinese


Input: " It had more than 15,000 foreign, Taiwan, and Hong Kong firms, and economic growth for that year reached 26%. "

more than 15,000

Taiwan

Hong Kong

that year


Input: In ancient times Dongguan was covered with lichee plantations whose fruit was favored by the imperial consort Yang Guifei.

Dongguan

Yang Guifei


Input: Just a little more than a decade ago Dongguan was still a largely agricultural area, its landscape a patchwork of rice paddies and corn fields.

a little more than a decade ago

Dongguan


Input: It has since been completely made over into a " boundless industrial park " with an area of 2,520 square kilometers, a population of more than 5 million, and more than 3,000 Taiwan firms.

2,520 square kilometers

more than 5 million

more than 3,000

Taiwan


Input: Chang Han - wen, the chairman of the Taiwan Business Association of Dongguan -LRB- TBAD -RRB-, says that development started in the late 1980s.

Chang Han - wen

the Taiwan Business Association of Dongguan

TBAD

the late 1980s


Input: Hong Kong firms, with their proximity and fluent Cantonese -LRB- also the local dialect in Dongguan -RRB-, were first.

Hong Kong

Dongguan

Cantonese

first


Input: The Taiwanese, first coming about 1989, followed.

Taiwanese

first


Input: Each arrival seemed to bring many more on its heels.


Input: Taiwan firms are now the most important source of foreign investment in Dongguan.

Taiwan

Dongguan


Input: Consider the booming electronics industry.


Input: Eighty percent of Dongguan's 1,800 computer - related companies are from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Eighty percent

Dongguan

Taiwan

Hong Kong

Macau


Input: In terms of production value, they account for at least half of this RMB 50 billion local industry.

RMB 50 billion


Input: Dongguan holds the highest concentration of Taiwan firms anywhere on the mainland.

Dongguan

Taiwan


Input: According to TBAD statistics, there are now 30,000 Taiwanese companies on the mainland, -LRB- official PRC statistics, which include service - industry firms, put the number at 45,000 -RRB-.

TBAD

Taiwanese

PRC


Input: Guangdong Province can boast one - third of the total, of which 3,200 are in Dongguan.

Guangdong Province

Dongguan

one - third


Input: Most of these are telecom, cable, plastics, shoes, electronics and electric machinery companies.


Input: Why has Dongguan been such a magnet for Taiwan firms?

Dongguan

Taiwan


Input: Kao Wen - lai points out that Dongguan is strategically located between Shenzhen and Guangzhou -LRB- Canton -RRB- and accessible to the entire Pearl River delta.

Kao Wen - lai

Dongguan

Shenzhen

Guangzhou

Canton

Pearl River


Input: It is three hours by car to Hong Kong and one and a half hours by boat to Humen.

three hours

one and a half hours

Hong Kong

Humen


Input: When compared to Shenzhen, moreover, land and labor in Dongguan are cheap.

Shenzhen

Dongguan


Input: " The local cadres have been smart, providing all manner of land and tax incentives, " says Chen Ming - chih, TBAD's secretary general.

Chen Ming - chih

TBAD


Input: Two keys to the miracle

Two


Input: One afternoon in the days before the Chinese New Year, Chinese businessmen wearing suits arrived at the People's Government administration building in Dongguan's Qishi district.

One afternoon

the Chinese New Year

Chinese

People's Government

Dongguan

Qishi


Input: After a long wait, they sat down at a table to negotiate with Qishi's Communist Party secretary, the district chief, and various staff from its foreign economic office.

Qishi

Communist Party


Input: Qishi's factory rents, electricity charges and land leases were all focuses of discussion.

Qishi


Input: TBAD, as is frequently the case, introduced the two parties.

TBAD

two


Input: " The factory rent was set at RMB 8.00 -LRB- about NT$ 32 -RRB- a square meter.

RMB 8.00


Input: The electricity charge was RMB .87 a kilowatt hour, and there were various tax incentives, " explains Wang Jung - tuo, who notes there is still room for negotiation.

RMB .87

Wang Jung - tuo


Input: All in all, it was a very attractive package.


Input: In 1990, Wang went to Malaysia thinking about opening a factory there, but he discovered that Malaysia's market was much smaller than the mainland's and its labor costs twice as high.

Wang

Malaysia

Malaysia


Input: The style of life was too different there, there was a language divide, and the roads were poor.


Input: The mainland was a much better fit for him and his printed circuit boards company.


Input: Now, little more than a decade later, its 20 - 30 workers have grown to 2,000.

little more than a decade later

20 - 30


Input: The company is once again preparing to expand its physical plant.


Input: He acknowledges that it was a risky move to come to mainland China, but " if you're going to die, you might as well die among your own people. "

China


Input: He traces his ancestry to Guangdong and affirms that his decision to set up in mainland China " involves ethnic pride. "

Guangdong

China


Input: Although low land and labor costs are Dongguan's main attractions, Taiwan firms also choose the locale for the networks of people and producers that have been built up among Taiwanese in Dongguan over the last ten years.

Dongguan

Taiwan

Dongguan

Taiwanese

the last ten years


Input: These two kinds of networks, says H.D. Yeh - who served as TBAD's president for two terms - were instrumental in creating the " Taiwanese economic miracle. "

two

two

H.D. Yeh

TBAD

Taiwanese


Input: H.D. Yeh points out that competition in the 21st century is all about speed.

H.D. Yeh

the 21st century


Input: When customers in America make purchase orders, the whole process, including drawing up the contract and manufacturing the goods, requires four months.

America


Input: But Taiwanese firms can deliver in 15 days.

Taiwanese

15 days


Input: " There are two keys, " he says.

two


Input: " One is that all the upstream and downstream factories are here.

One


Input: You can assemble a computer completely from parts made within 50 kilometers. "

50 kilometers


Input: And the second key is that when you deal with Taiwanese companies, you don't have to endure a long contract process.

second

Taiwanese


Input: Everything starts rolling with a single telephone call.


Input: Taiwanese business people are always playing golf, singing karaoke or chewing betel nut together.

Taiwanese


Input: " Everyone is always asking how everyone else is doing - it's a way of networking and building up good relations, " Yeh says.

Yeh


Input: Andrew Yeh recalls that when the company first set up in Dongguan in 1990, " Even screws had to be brought in from Taiwan. "

Andrew Yeh

first

Dongguan

Taiwan


Input: But now the company sources virtually all of the necessary raw materials and parts on the mainland and is reliant for very little on Taiwan.

Taiwan


Input: " What does industrial emigration entail?


Input: Usually it means downstream industries coming first, forcing the mid-stream industries to follow, " says Sylvia Yang, deputy chairperson of TBAD's women's division.

first

Sylvia Yang

TBAD


Input: And in Dongguan downstream Taiwan firms have expanded into the mid-stream, becoming more vertically integrated.

Dongguan


Input: Tahsin Printing only made paper boxes in Taiwan but when they set up a plant in Dongguan they discovered that it was hard to obtain the paper rolls they needed and thus learned how to make them themselves.

Tahsin Printing

Taiwan

Dongguan


Input: Now the company makes paper boxes both from rolled paper and from colored flat paper.


Input: To each its own domain


Input: Many companies have expanded into new business realms in Dongguan.

Dongguan


Input: A frequently cited example is Primax, H.D. Yeh's electronics firm.

Primax

H.D. Yeh's


Input: The company rented a factory in Dongguan in 1989 and at first produced labor - intensive power surge protectors.

Dongguan

first


Input: After three years, they began in 1992 to invest massively on the mainland, establishing computer mouse production lines.

three years


Input: Thereafter, Primax launched new products every year: cellular phone parts, overhead projectors, paper shredders, scanners...

Primax


Input: Constantly expanding its product lines and production capacity, Primax expanded from a single Dongguan plant with 25 workers in 1989 to its current nine factories and 4,000 - plus workforce.

Primax

Dongguan

nine


Input: Primax's performance, H.D. Yeh notes, pushed its mother company in Taiwan to go public seven years ago.

Primax

H.D. Yeh

Taiwan

seven years ago


Input: Primax is one of the few Taiwan electronics companies with a definite " China orientation. "

Primax

one

Taiwan

China


Input: " It doesn't cost much to set up a factory in mainland China, and shipping times are stable.

China


Input: These are helpful to the mother company both in terms of controlling costs and filling large orders, " says Yeh.

Yeh


Input: Dongguan Hsu Fu Chi Foods, which sells candy, cakes and candied fruit in the mainland domestic market, is another good example.

Dongguan Hsu Fu Chi Foods


Input: They began production there in 1992, formally opening their own plant in Dongguan in 1994.

Dongguan


Input: The company now has three factories in Dongguan, with a combined area of 120,000 square meters, that produce 200 tons of candy, 70 tons of Chinese - style cakes, and 180 tons of gelatin and pudding a day.

three

Dongguan

120,000 square meters

200 tons

70 tons

180 tons

Chinese


Input: " We produce 300 - 500 container loads of food a month.

300 - 500


Input: You can find our cakes in supermarkets all the way from Guangzhou to Tibet. "

Guangzhou

Tibet


Input: Norman Hsu, the company's vice president, says that after one invests on the mainland, layouts of Taiwan factories seem exceedingly cramped.

Norman Hsu

one

Taiwan


Input: " There's a totally different sense of space. "


Input: " Dongguan is by itself one - thirteenth the size of Taiwan, " notes Chen Ming - chih, secretary general of the Taiwan Business Association.

Dongguan

Taiwan

one - thirteenth

Chen Ming - chih

the Taiwan Business Association


Input: In Dongguan factories are more than ten times the sizes of similar plants in Taiwan.

Dongguan

Taiwan

more than ten


Input: One factory building at the Talingshan furniture plant is 380 meters long.

One

Talingshan

380 meters


Input: Walking the perimeter of a leading electronics plant in Qishi is " like playing four holes of golf. "

Qishi

four


Input: Like soldiers, workers often have to take different shifts in the cafeteria.


Input: The Pouchen shoe plant, Dongguan's largest, employs 100,000.

Pouchen

Dongguan


Input: The compound has a nursery, hospital and an operating room.


Input: " We always jokingly refer to it as Fort Pouchen, " says Yeh.

Pouchen

Yeh


Input: Victory to the strivers


Input: Although the Taiwan firms in Dongguan have left home, their success can largely be attributed to an ethos they transplanted from Taiwan - that " victory goes to those who strive the hardest. "

Taiwan

Dongguan

Taiwan


Input: " In Taiwan, we used to take the children somewhere fun on weekends and holidays, " says Chang Mei - liang of TBAD's women's division.

Taiwan

Chang Mei - liang

TBAD


Input: But since she's moved the factory, " there hasn't been a single meal the whole family has eaten together. "


Input: If you want to open a plant on the mainland, you're going to have to sacrifice family intimacy. "


Input: In Taiwan, a boss just has to set the factory's basic course and at the very most supervise the executives, " explains Sylvia Yang, the women's division's deputy chairperson.

Taiwan

Sylvia Yang


Input: " But on the mainland, a boss has to supervise everything: customs, tax payments, workers' disputes, meal preparation....


Input: There's always the feeling that everyone will start to slack off once the boss leaves. "


Input: All the job - related pressures and evenings out with fellow Taiwanese business people or Communist Party cadres result in ill health for many Taiwan business people on the mainland.

Taiwanese

Communist Party

Taiwan


Input: One of Chen's tasks as chairperson of TBAD is to handle funeral arrangements for Taiwanese business people there.

Chen

TBAD

Taiwanese


Input: " Many of them die suddenly, " he says.


Input: The association has been trying to promote healthier lifestyles.


Input: " Instead of just going out to karaoke bars and drinking, why not play golf too, " recommends H.D. Yeh.

H.D. Yeh


Input: Dongguan has four or five golf courses within city limits.

Dongguan

four or five


Input: About 1,000 people play every day, and 80 - 90% of them are Taiwanese.

80 - 90%

Taiwanese


Input: The Taiwanese entrepreneurial spirit has blossomed here by processing goods for export through Hong Kong in addition to making the most of connections between local Taiwan firms.

Taiwanese

Hong Kong

Taiwan


Input: With 3,000 Taiwan - owned businesses here, and 10 - 20,000 Taiwanese business people and their dependants coming in and out every day, the Dong - guan area has already developed an economic circle in which Taiwan firms can conduct most of their business among themselves.

10 - 20,000

Taiwan

Dong - guan

Taiwan

Taiwanese


Input: In the vibrant district of Houjian, there is an area that locals call Taiwan Town.

Houjian

Taiwan Town


Input: A casual look around reveals shop signs familiar to any Taiwanese: Taichung Goose, Ah - shui Shih's Pig Knuckle Kingdom, Yungho Soy Milk, the Mantu Hair Salon.... and most of the customers are Taiwanese.

Taiwanese

Taiwanese

Taichung Goose

Ah - shui Shih's Pig Knuckle Kingdom

Yungho Soy Milk

the Mantu Hair Salon


Input: Restaurants serve up authentic Taiwanese fare like " pineapples and bitter melon chicken " and " sesame oil chicken. "

Taiwanese


Input: In November 1998 Global Express, a Taiwan firm, even opened up a shuttle bus to Hong Kong's airport.

November 1998

Global Express

Taiwan

Hong Kong's


Input: Global Express serves as a good example of Taiwanese corporate agility.

Global Express

Taiwanese


Input: Originally, arrivals from Taiwan en route to Dongguan had to board buses run by a Hong Kong - based and mainland - financed travel agency.

Taiwan

Dongguan

Hong Kong


Input: " But we felt that the service left something to be desired, and that a lot of time would always be wasted while holders of' Taiwanese Compatriot Visas' cleared customs, " notes David Chang, Global Travel Holding's executive director.

' Taiwanese Compatriot Visas'

David Chang

Global Travel Holding's


Input: Two years ago, this Taiwanese travel agency began to talk with the mainland customs and border inspection agencies and negotiated a deal to get the route.

Two years ago

Taiwanese


Input: " We tell Taiwanese business people that riding our buses is safe, the service is good, and that it makes the trip through customs easy. "

Taiwanese


Input: In enemy territory


Input: As soon as you're through customs at Hong Kong, you see them: women draped with beauty pageant - like sashes with the Chinese characters for " Global Travel " emblazoned across them.

Hong Kong

Chinese

" Global Travel "


Input: Pushing small luggage carts, they lead customers to the buses.


Input: They have become a " must - see " tourist sight for Taiwanese visitors to Dongguan.

Taiwanese

Dongguan


Input: " At first we thought of talking with Hong Kong airport about renting a counter, " explains Chang.

first

Hong Kong

Chang


Input: " But for just one - fourth of a six square - meter booth, the rent comes to HK$ 200,000. "

one - fourth

six square - meter

HK$ 200,000


Input: So the company thought that instead of spending that much money on a booth it made more sense to lower operating costs and pass these along in the form of lower fares for its customers.


Input: They never expected that the luggage carts would in fact make it much easier for customers to find them in sprawling Hong Kong airport and would become an easily recognizable company trademark.

Hong Kong


Input: " Now mainland Chinese travel agencies have started copying the way we use the carts, " says Chang, laughing.

Chinese

Chang


Input: Since Global buses started plying this route in November 1988, daily bus departures have risen from 4 to 27, with over 20,000 riders a month.

Global

November 1988


Input: Global plans to introduce new services, including car rentals and plane ticket reservations and confirmations.

Global


Input: Dongguan appears to have a bright future.

Dongguan


Input: " The Taiwan firms here now are powerful enough to get two or three members of the Legislative Yuan to represent their interests, " holds one senior reporter.

Taiwan

two

three

one

the Legislative Yuan


Input: Although TBAD's Yeh believes that investment prospects on the mainland are good, he does acknowledge the precariousness of their position in hostile territory.

TBAD

Yeh


Input: Taiwan business interests can not put down their guard.

Taiwan


Input: Because of Taiwan's experience with rapid modernization, many CCP cadres have sought employment with Taiwanese firms, hoping to learn from the masters.

Taiwan

CCP

Taiwanese


Input: At the first opportunity, however, they leave to set up shop for themselves.

first


Input: " The student then challenges the master, " explains Sylvia Yang, detailing how these mainland upstarts go on to compete with the very Taiwan firms that taught them all they know.

Sylvia Yang

Taiwan


Input: This scenario should be familiar to Taiwanese.

Taiwanese


Input: " It happens in Taiwan too. "

Taiwan


Input: Apart from keeping up their guard, it is even more important that Taiwan firms raise their productivity and technological level.

Taiwan


Input: " Many manufacturers, even those in mainland China, will not survive, " says Yeh.

China

Yeh


Input: Taiwan firms find it difficult to adjust to the instability of the mainland's investment environment, as well as the laws there that seemingly change overnight.

Taiwan


Input: The year before last the mainland announced a new tax system, under which raw materials imported by foreign firms would be taxed at a rate of 17%, with 9% being returned to the manufacturer when finished goods were exported.

The year before last


Input: " When I went to Beijing to negotiate, " recalls Yeh, " I asked cadres in the foreign trade office to consider the impact of the tax on the electronics industry.

Beijing

Yeh


Input: Profit margins are at best 3 - 5%.

3 - 5%


Input: How can manufacturers afford to pay a 17% import tax? "


Input: In June of last year the PRC authorities announced the " Document 35 " rules.

June of last year

PRC

" Document 35 "


Input: These stipulated that companies would be given grades according to the quantity of their exports and their records of breaking customs regulations.


Input: Those meriting only a B would have to offer a deposit of 40 - 50% against the value of their raw material imports.

40 - 50%


Input: This terrified Taiwan firms in Dongguan.

Taiwan

Dongguan


Input: According to TBAD's statistics, 75% of the Taiwanese firms were given Bs.

TBAD

Taiwanese


Input: The announcement caused quite a stir, but its effect on Taiwanese investment is as yet unclear.

Taiwanese


Input: In August of last year, as the mainland customs authorities took aggressive moves against smuggling, 12 Taiwan business people in Dongguan were detained.

August of last year

Taiwan

Dongguan


Input: The charges ran the gamut from not filling out proper forms to purchasing phony export contracts and trying to pass them off to customs.


Input: Seven business people were arrested and charged with smuggling and are still in jail.

Seven


Input: " I'm constantly thinking about them.


Input: I'm meditating and have gone vegetarian, but I'm still not at peace, " Yeh says.

Yeh


Input: On the mainland, the highest penalty for smuggling is death.


Input: " Last year the mainland sent nine customs officers to the firing squad, " notes Yeh.

Last year

nine

Yeh


Input: The fate of these Taiwanese businessmen will depend entirely on the mainland's political climate.

Taiwanese


Input: Whether its arrival was by accident or design, a new age for Taiwanese firms in Dongguan is here.

Taiwanese

Dongguan


Input: It is a far cry from the days when Taiwan firms enjoyed tremendous advantages.

Taiwan


Input: From the various revisions to trade law adopted by the PRC last year, Chang Han - wen extrapolates that the PRC both wants to protect its uncompetitive state firms and turn from low - tech processing to high - tech production.

PRC

PRC

last year

Chang Han - wen


Input: " This is because state enterprises pressure the government with appeals about their right to survival, " Yeh says.

Yeh


Input: When foreign firms in the mainland are confronted with threats to their safety and property, " Hong Kong can count on the cooperation of the government, US and Japanese businesses can turn to their ambassadors, but what can Taiwan firms do? " asks Yeh.

Hong Kong

US

Taiwan

Japanese

Yeh


Input: In Dongguan they can help each other.

Dongguan


Input: Currently, more than 80% of the 3,000 Taiwanese firms in Dongguan have joined TBAD.

Taiwanese

Dongguan

TBAD


Input: TBAD has 29 local branches in Dongguan and is, moreover, the only Taiwan business association in mainland China with a women's division.

TBAD

Dongguan

Taiwan

China


Input: Major companies listed on the TAIEX, including Lite - on Electronics and Delta Electronics, are members of TBAD.

TAIEX

Lite - on Electronics

Delta Electronics

TBAD


Input: It is the largest and strongest of all Taiwan business groups on the mainland both in terms of organization and operations.

Taiwan


Input: Many Taiwanese believe that at a time of cross-strait tension, Taiwan firms have made their own decisions to invest in the mainland and therefore should bear the risk themselves too.

Taiwanese

Taiwan


Input: And by investing their money, technology and so forth on the mainland, are they not to some degree abandoning Taiwan?

Taiwan


Input: TBAD takes issue with this view.

TBAD


Input: H.D. Yeh points out that in 1998 Taiwan had an overall trade surplus of US$ 5.9 billion, and a surplus of US$ 12.76 billion with mainland China.

H.D. Yeh

Taiwan

China

US$ 5.9 billion

US$ 12.76 billion


Input: If not for its trade with the PRC, therefore, Taiwan would have had a trade deficit.

PRC

Taiwan


Input: " We make our money here, but we pay taxes in Taiwan, and most of our families and children do most of their consumer spending in Taiwan, " insists TBAD chairperson Chang Mei - liang.

Taiwan

Taiwan

TBAD

Chang Mei - liang


Input: Chang notes that after the major earthquake in Taiwan on September 21, Taiwan business associations throughout mainland China contributed NT$ 60 million.

Chang

Taiwan

Taiwan

China

September 21

NT$ 60 million


Input: TBAD contributed NT$ 30 million all by itself.

TBAD

NT$ 30 million


Input: Hence, he argues that it's very unfair to say that Taiwanese businesses in the mainland aren't contributing to Taiwan.

Taiwanese

Taiwan


Input: The question is, how should the ROC government view Taiwan firms in the mainland?

ROC

Taiwan


Input: And for that matter how is the PRC government looking at the Taiwanese in Dongguan?

PRC

Dongguan

Taiwanese


Input: TBAD's spiritual leader H.D. Yeh often goes to Beijing to represent Taiwan firms in negotiations with the government.

TBAD

H.D. Yeh

Beijing

Taiwan


Input: Once, in the presence of many Communist Party cadres, a high - ranking official of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office asked him this question: " You've gathered so many Taiwan firms in Dongguan and stirred up such enthusiasm among them - but for what purpose? "

Communist Party

the State Council's

Taiwan Affairs Office

Taiwan

Dongguan


Input: It threw him for a loop.


Input: Yeh is still trying to figure out what the mainland authorities think of TBAD.

Yeh

TBAD


Input: For Taiwan firms in Dongguan, investing in mainland China is a road of no return.

Taiwan

Dongguan

China


Input: " In recent years many Taiwan business people have also tried to invest in Vietnam, only later to close their factories there, " says Chang Han - wen.

recent years

Taiwan

Vietnam

Chang Han - wen


Input: Mainland China shares the same language as Taiwan and it offers attractive investment conditions.

China

Taiwan


Input: It would be surprising if it didn't attract Taiwan firms that are eager to set up offshore.

Taiwan


Input: Amid the cross-strait political standoff, one can expect that Taiwan firms in Dongguan will continue to live out this exciting tale of gain and loss.

Taiwan

Dongguan


Input: -LRB- Jackie Cheng / photos by Diago Chiu / tr. by Jonathan Barnard -RRB-

Jackie Cheng

Diago Chiu

Jonathan Barnard


Input: Source: Taiwan Business Association of Dongguan

Taiwan Business Association of Dongguan


Input: Graphic by Tsai Chih - pen

Tsai Chih - pen


Input: Genteel Journalis --


Input: Thomas Lu

Thomas Lu


Input: -LRB- Eric Lin / tr. by Robert Taylor -RRB-

Eric Lin

Robert Taylor


Input: Thomas Lu is the doyen of the Chinese news media.

Thomas Lu

Chinese


Input: Still out on the journalistic front lines at 81, this spry, forthright veteran has an immense zest for life.


Input: At 78, drawing on his astonishingly sharp memory, he completed his reminiscences and " record of emotional regrets. "


Input: He is not only one of the " wonders " of Taiwan's journalistic world, but is also recognized by those of his generation as a gentleman and a " good - looking man. "

Taiwan


Input: A person's looks change with their age and their state of mind.


Input: Many friends have told me I look better the older I get.


Input: People don't know that when I was young I had dreadful protruding teeth, but now not only do my teeth no longer show, but the lines of my face have also softened.


Input: People who know me know that there have always been two great loves in my life: the news, and women.

two


Input: Now that I'm in my 80s, looking back I think I can say I've done alright in both respects, and I've learnt that both reporting the news well, and finding favor with women, depend on your character and conduct.


Input: Journalism is not just a profession, but should also be a vocation - you have to throw yourself fully into this infinitely broad field of endeavor.


Input: Intellectually and spiritually, in work and in love, I have gained experience and fulfilment.


Input: I have always remembered the encouragement which Mr. Yu Youren gave me as a young reporter.

Yu Youren


Input: He said that to be a fearless champion of social justice, as is expected of a journalist, the most important thing, apart from energy and vitality, is modesty.


Input: You have to treat everybody the same, and not be overawed by the great and powerful.


Input: A president or a street sweeper deserve the same respect as a human being, and should both be treated the same way.


Input: Funnily enough, an unassuming attitude is also advantageous in relations with the opposite sex.


Input: Chinese society is male dominated, and women are mostly regarded as having a subsidiary role.

Chinese


Input: In this kind of unfair situation, an upstanding man should cherish and respect women all the more.


Input: A considerate attitude can be expressed in little things.


Input: For instance, when you see that a hair has fallen onto a female friend's shoulder, you should lightly pick it off for her, and throw it away or put it in your pocket.


Input: If sincere, this kind of action is attractive in a man.


Input: If a woman expresses her liking for you, then no matter whether she is pretty, or whether you find her attractive, you should respond in the same way, and with the same respect.


Input: When I was a young reporter stationed in Europe, there was a British woman reporter who liked me very much.

Europe

British


Input: Once I was driving her somewhere to report a story when we had an accident, and she suffered some badly broken bones.


Input: Although I wasn't attracted to her in that way, I went to see her every day in hospital, and this left a deep impression on her of how considerate Chinese men can be.

Chinese


Input: Looking back at my life, I've hardly had any really bad experiences in my relationships with women, and this is because just as in my professional life, I've always maintained a self - critical attitude towards my emotions, and always tried to prevent myself acting like a male chauvinist.


Input: Looks are something you are born with, but character is something you can work on, and it can outweigh your appearance.


Input: Luo Jialun, one of the leading lights of the May Fourth Movement, is a famous example.

Luo Jialun

the May Fourth Movement


Input: Luo was not good looking, and was even ridiculed as " looking like a cross between a pig, a dog and a bear. "

Luo


Input: But he was tremendously well - read, had a beautiful writing style, and for a time he was Chinese ambassador to India.

Chinese

India


Input: His wife was a universally admired beauty, the envy of all.


Input: So I say, " handsome is as handsome does. "


Input: I was imprisoned by both the Kuomintang and the Communists, and at times I might have been killed.

Kuomintang

Communists


Input: Perhaps other people in the same situation might have wallowed in self - pity, but I saw it as a rare opportunity in life.


Input: In 1951, in a dark prison cell during a big Communist purge, what came into my mind was not fear of death.

Communist


Input: Instead, I wondered what kind of headline my death would merit in the newspapers.


Input: " 10,000 Rush to See Lu Executed "?

Lu


Input: Perhaps it was this eternal optimism which changed my frame of mind and my appearance.


Input: This is the advice I'd like to give young people:


Input: it's true that good looks can come from external grooming, wearing nice clothes, or wearing earrings; and perhaps you can get other people's attention by creating your own special look.


Input: But don't overdo it.


Input: It is appropriate dress, and a temperament developed through study and practice, which really make a man attractive.


Input: Powerful Tools for Biotechnology - Biochips

Powerful Tools for Biotechnology - Biochips


Input: -LRB- Chang Chiung - fang / photos by Hsueh Chi - kuang / tr. by Robert Taylor -RRB-

Chang Chiung - fang

Hsueh Chi - kuang

Robert Taylor


Input: The enterovirus detection biochip developed by DR. Chip Biotechnology takes only six hours to give hospitals the answer to whether a sample contains enterovirus, and if it is the deadly strain Entero 71.

DR. Chip Biotechnology

only six hours


Input: Worldwide, biotechnology is a rising star of the industrial stage.


Input: In Taiwan, in recent years the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the National Science Council and the National Health Research Institutes have been strongly pursuing " biochip " research programs.

Taiwan

the Ministry of Economic Affairs

the National Science Council

the National Health Research Institutes


Input: In the last two years, three biochip companies have also been set up in Taiwan.

the last two years

three

Taiwan


Input: Just what are biochips?


Input: What use are they to mankind?


Input: Why do so many people have such confidence in their future?


Input: What is the current state of this field in Taiwan?

Taiwan


Input: And what are the prospects for future development?


Input: Let's take a closer look.


Input: In just a few years' time, or a few decades, the following scenario could become a reality:

a few years'

a few decades


Input: When you're feeling under the weather, all you need to do is buy a diagnostic biochip from the chemist's shop, put a drop of urine onto it, and you will find out what is wrong with you - a health check will be as easy as a pregnancy test today.


Input: Everyone will carry with them a biochip bearing a record and analysis of their own DNA.


Input: From it one will not only be able to see one's own physical condition, but even to predict what diseases one will have in the future.


Input: It will be like an ID card, needed when looking for work, buying insurance or even seeking a partner for love and marriage.


Input: Laboratories will no longer need all kinds of large instruments, for all stages of their experiments will be carried out on little biochips, saving time, effort and money.


Input: Today, the scenes outlined above may just seem like pipe dreams.

Today


Input: But these dreams could yet come true, and the key to that happening is those little biochips.


Input: A dream come true?

A dream come true?


Input: Developments such as the sequencing of the human genome and the rapid development of genetic engineering have spawned biotechnology industries like bioinformatics, biomaterials and pharmaceutical engineering, which have emerged as the rising stars of 21st - century industry.

21st - century


Input: As part of the government's efforts to promote the biotechnology industry in Taiwan, in July 1999 the Industrial Technology Research Institute -LRB- ITRI -RRB- set up the Biomedical Engineering Center -LRB- BMEC -RRB- to actively develop biomedical engineering technologies.

Taiwan

July 1999

the Industrial Technology Research Institute

ITRI

the Biomedical Engineering Center

BMEC


Input: Biochips are one of the core technologies in the field.


Input: BMEC general director Dr. Johnsee Lee says that the ITRI's four - year R&D program in biochip applications and technology is now in its second year.

BMEC

ITRI

Johnsee Lee

four - year

second year


Input: Its initial objectives are mainly focused on developing sensor chips to screen for infectious diseases, while later goals will be to develop technologies to test for genetic diseases and cancers.


Input: As well as this new research establishment, in the two years since September 1998 three commercial companies have been set up in Taiwan to make biochips: U - Vision Biotech, Taiwan Genome Sciences and DR. Chip Biotechnology.

the two years

September 1998

three

Taiwan

U - Vision Biotech

Taiwan Genome Sciences

DR. Chip Biotechnology


Input: Of these, DR. Chip attracted much attention this year when it developed a chip to detect enteroviruses, a deadly epidemic of which has gripped Taiwan over the last two years.

DR. Chip

this year

Taiwan

the last two years


Input: Fever chips

Fever chips


Input: DR. Chip Bio-technology was set up in September 1998.

DR. Chip Bio-technology

September 1998


Input: Vice president Wang Shin - hwan states that the company successfully applied to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for funding to help it pursue a development program for enterovirus detection chips and test technology.

Wang Shin - hwan

the Ministry of Economic Affairs


Input: Today, the enterovirus chip is in the testing phase, and DR. Chip is collaborating with Taipei Veterans General Hospital to obtain samples with which to establish the accuracy of the chip.

DR. Chip

Taipei Veterans General Hospital


Input: What is so remarkable about the enterovirus detection chip when compared with traditional test methods?


Input: There are 68 known forms of non-polio enterovirus.


Input: The detection chip does not simply determine whether a person is infected with enterovirus, but can also differentiate between different virus groups, for instance showing whether a sample contains the deadly Entero 71 virus, or Coxsackie A16, which is easily confused with Entero 71.


Input: In addition, the chip and its accompanying PCR kit greatly reduce the time required for testing.


Input: Wang Shin - hwan notes that traditional bacterial and viral cultures take seven to ten days to prepare, and even with the newer molecular biology testing techniques it takes three days to get a result.

Wang Shin - hwan

three days


Input: But DR. Chip has developed methods to reduce the sample preparation time, which enables a result to be obtained in only six hours when used in combination with their enterovirus chip.

DR. Chip

only six hours


Input: Furthermore, the initial results of joint trials by DR. Chip, Chang Gung University and National Cheng Kung University suggest that the chip is over a thousand times more sensitive than traditional test methods.

DR. Chip

Chang Gung University

National Cheng Kung University

thousand


Input: " In addition to enterovirus, we plan to develop chips to detect other infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, " says Wang Shin - hwan.

Wang Shin - hwan


Input: Apart from the enterovirus chip, which is already at the testing stage, the ITRI's Molecular Biomedical Technology Division is also conducting research and development on biochip applications and technology.

the ITRI's Molecular Biomedical Technology Division


Input: Research program director Pan Chao - chi states that at present they are actively developing a " fever chip " with a wide range of applications.

Pan Chao - chi


Input: Pan explains that in clinical practice, the causes of fever are difficult to quickly diagnose.


Input: A " fever chip " bearing the DNA of common fever - causing viruses and bacteria could be used to determine the cause of the fever and the type of pathogen involved would be a valuable tool.


Input: However, Pan points out that because of the difficulties in substantially reducing the time needed for sample preparation, the usefulness of such a fever chip is still limited, so that it can not yet be widely promoted.

Pan


Input: Where the real money is


Input: At present, most applications for biochips are in academic research and the development of new pharmaceutical drugs.


Input: Demand for them is growing rapidly.


Input: Johnsee Lee says that according to US market research estimates, the worldwide annual consumption of microarray chips is currently around 250,000; in two years this is expected to grow to 1.2 million.

Johnsee Lee

US

1.2 million

two years


Input: Based on a market price per chip of US$ 1,000, the size of the world market in biochips could grow to US$ 1.2 billion in 2003, and to US$ 40 billion over the next decade.

US$ 1,000

US$ 1.2 billion

US$ 40 billion

the next decade


Input: Thus some people have set their sights on the biochip market, and believe that following Taiwan's success in the semiconductor field, the island could go on to be a major center for contract manufacture of biochips.

Taiwan


Input: Be that as it may, the small number of biochip companies so far established in Taiwan still find their market in domestic research establishments and pharmaceuticals manufacturers.

Taiwan


Input: Although they are also actively developing overseas markets, what interests them most is not biochips per se, nor are they content merely to be contract manufacturers.


Input: " The chips are only a tool, and the big money is not in chip sales.


Input: What counts is the R&D behind them. "


Input: Jerry Huang, executive vice president of U - Vision Biotech, reveals that U - Vision, which was set up in September 1999, has signed a contract with the US company Zen - Bio to jointly develop human adipocyte cDNA microarray chips.

Jerry Huang

U - Vision Biotech

U - Vision

Zen - Bio

September 1999

US


Input: Huang states that research in recent years has revealed that adipocytes -LRB- fat cells -RRB- are active regulators of the energy balance in the body, and play an important role in disorders such as obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Huang

recent years


Input: Thus it is hoped that research into human adipocytes can help in the search for drugs and other therapies to treat these disorders.


Input: Apart from this, U - Vision is also conducting a one - year bacterial genome project, which aims to map the genome of a certain drug - resistant bacterium as a basis for developing new vaccines and drugs.

U - Vision

one - year


Input: Drug development


Input: Taiwan Genome Sciences -LRB- TGS -RRB-, which was set up in November 1999 as a joint venture by the Uni-President Enterprises Group, Yuen Foong Yu and Tuntex Groups, only entered the biotechnology fray in April of this year.

Taiwan Genome Sciences

TGS

the Uni-President Enterprises Group

Tuntex Groups

November 1999

April of this year

Yuen Foong Yu


Input: CEO Andrew Kuo says the investors came to the view that Taiwan needs to develop its biotechnology industries, and therefore they combined their resources to make a long - term investment in the field.

Andrew Kuo

Taiwan


Input: TGS's strategy is to invest in a number of US genome research companies, and to sign technology transfer agreements and chip production contracts with them.

TGS

US


Input: Kuo comments that contract production of chips is merely a service activity and a source of income for the company - TGS's ultimate goal is in doing R&D work to identify gene sequences as targets for developing new drugs.

Kuo

TGS


Input: Kuo states that at present, the number of known target sequences for disease - treating drugs is only around 500, but as the human genome is mapped out this number can be expected to increase tenfold.

Kuo


Input: Currently, TGS has its sights set mainly on doing research into diseases which are especially prevalent in Asia, such as liver and stomach cancers.

TGS

Asia


Input: A chip revolution

A chip revolution


Input: However, the potential uses for biochips go far beyond the medical applications outlined above.


Input: Dr. Johnsee Lee, who as well as heading up the Biomedical Engineering Center is also general director of Union Chemical Laboratories, a research institute under the ITRI umbrella, says that due to biochips' advantages of miniaturization, parallelism, speed and the ability to reveal the " big picture, " they have a very wide range of applications.

Johnsee Lee

the Biomedical Engineering Center

Union Chemical Laboratories

ITRI


Input: They can not only be used as a research tool in biological, medical and pharmaceutical research and development, and as a clinical diagnostic tool for doing health checks, testing for infectious pathogens, screening blood and so on, but they can also find uses in such areas as defense applications, police forensic work, environmental testing and food testing.


Input: Biochips come in two main types: the microfluidics chip or " lab - on - a - chip, " and the microarray chip or " DNA chip. "


Input: Microfluidics chips bring together biotechnology, microelectronics, micromachining and other technologies to integrate the functions of multiple laboratory instruments onto a single chip in miniaturized form.


Input: Meanwhile on microarray chips, biological molecules such as gene segments, oligonucleotides, proteins or antibodies are bound to the chip surface in an array of tiny spots, and a single chip may carry many tens of thousands of such spots.


Input: BMEC researcher Pan Chao - chi uses the example of blood screening for a blood bank to illustrate the difference between the two kinds of chips.

BMEC

Pan Chao - chi


Input: To test a blood sample using a microarray chip, the sample must first go through many preparatory steps such as purification, nucleotide extraction, copying, amplification and labeling before being put onto the chip where the " hybridization " reaction takes place.


Input: Finally, the results are analyzed using a detection system.


Input: Hence these chips are only suitable for use in the laboratory.


Input: In contrast, with a lab - on - a - chip system, all the laboratory preparation stages will be done on the chip itself, so that the user need only place a drop of blood directly onto the chip to obtain a result.


Input: At present, microfluidics technology is not yet mature, and no such chips have been launched as commercial products anywhere.


Input: But, says Pan Chao - chih: " This is the way future biochip development will go. "

Pan Chao - chih


Input: The poor man's chip

The poor man's chip


Input: Future prospects also seem infinite for microarray chips, which are already widely used in laboratories and research establishments.


Input: Jerry Huang notes that DNA chips are an indispensable research tool in molecular biology.

Jerry Huang


Input: On one little biochip, tens of thousands of gene segments can be arranged to simultaneously detect the expression of tens of thousands of genes.

one

tens of thousands

tens of thousands


Input: In other words, whereas in the past researchers had to investigate each gene individually, today, using biochips, they can obtain test results for tens of thousands of genes at once.

tens of thousands


Input: In particular, biochips not only can speed the pace of research, but can also replace laboratory animals such as rats and rabbits in many experiments, with tests being carried out directly on human genes on the chip.


Input: Thus as research tools biochips are not only convenient and quick, but also more humane.


Input: Dr. Konan Peck, an assistant research fellow at Academia Sinica's Institute of Biomedical Sciences -LRB- IBMS -RRB-, says that biochips need to be made more widely available as a molecular biology research tool.

Konan Peck

Academia Sinica's Institute of Biomedical Sciences

IBMS


Input: With this in mind, Peck has developed nylon - based biochips which have been called " the poor man's biochip, " since they cost a third less than glass chips.

Peck

a third


Input: Apart from the material itself being cheaper, the nylon chips use a visible - spectrum colorimetric system to display results, so that they can be read using an ordinary optical scanner, which costs 50 - 70% less than using a special laser detector.

50 - 70%


Input: The nylon membrane biochips currently produced by TGS and U - Vision Biotech are all derived from the technology developed by Konan Peck.

TGS

U - Vision Biotech

Konan Peck


Input: Cutting edge

Cutting edge


Input: Can Taiwan really repeat its success in the semiconductor industry, to become a major production center for biochips?

Taiwan


Input: BMEC director Johnsee Lee observes that the level of scientific and technical know - how required for biochip production is very high, so that the opportunities for contract manufacture are limited.

BMEC

Johnsee Lee


Input: However, due to Taiwan's early entry into biochip research and development, and the high state of development of its semiconductor industry, the island is well supplied with relevant technology and skills.

Taiwan


Input: Thus, says Lee, " Taiwan should have opportunities to enter this field not merely as a contract manufacturer. "

Lee

Taiwan


Input: The potential and importance of biochips is plain to see, but in this new, interdisciplinary industry, there are still many obstacles and difficulties to overcome.


Input: Apart from the fact that the technology is not yet mature, and that generally accepted, mutually compatible international standards have not yet emerged, the biggest bottleneck for biochips at the moment is the many thousands of patents which have been taken out in the field, which limit the avenues available to each player.


Input: " Because this area is a patents minefield, it's impossible to create a product which from start to finish doesn't infringe on anyone else's patents, " says Johnsee Lee.

Johnsee Lee


Input: In his view, this problem may be resolved in the future by the exchange of patented technologies between players.


Input: In other words, at this stage companies must actively carry out research and development, and obtain international patents, in order to have bargaining chips in future negotiations.


Input: At present, the BMEC has over 10 patents pending in the areas of microfluidics biochips, chip surface processing technology and probe design and applications.

BMEC


Input: Pushing the envelope


Input: Although at their present stage of development, biochips are already a great help to researchers, they are still far removed from ordinary people's lives.


Input: But one day they will play an important role in all our lives.


Input: " Applications and commercialization are our goal, " says Johnsee Lee.

Johnsee Lee


Input: He says that only if research results are commercialized does research produce an economic payback.


Input: Equally, to have a really broad market biochips need to go beyond the laboratory researcher, and into hospitals, clinics and homes, and to individual users.


Input: Lee points out that before biochips will be worth commercializing, sample preparation needs to be made convenient, reading results must be simple and easy, the chips' speed and accuracy must be high, and their cost must be low.

Lee


Input: He predicts that in one to two years, biochips will be suitable for use in supplemental tests, and after around three years for high - throughput screening; in five years time it should be possible to develop them into general screening tools which will be as easy to use as the pregnancy test kits on the market today.

one to two years

around three years


Input: IBMS associate research fellow Konan Peck agrees that in the foreseeable future, diagnostic chips will enable everyone to learn their current state of health and know what diseases they may develop in the future.

IBMS

Konan Peck


Input: But in a situation where testing technology is ahead of medical treatment technology, the medical problems so discovered may not be treatable.


Input: Mankind is always challenging his limits, and when, in the near future, biochips lift the veil of many diseases, the next challenge will have only just begun.


Input: Turning to the Constitution on the " One China " Issue

One

China


Input: Still wrestling with the vexed issue of " one China, " the President's Advisory Group on Cross-Strait Relations met for its sixth and seventh sessions during November, amid frenzied media attention.

one

China

the President's Advisory Group

Cross-Strait

sixth

seventh

November


Input: The group eventually reached a consensus that the " one China " principle advocated by the mainland should be addressed " in accordance with the constitution. "

one

China


Input: How president Chen Shui - bian responds to this proposal will determine whether or not the " one China " stalemate can be broken, and if there is to be a set timetable for implementing the three direct links.

Chen Shui - bian

one

three

China


Input: After assuming the presidency, Chen Shui - bian recruited a number of leading politicians, industrialists, academics and other personages for a non-partisan advisory group, intended to build cross-party consensus on the subject of relations with the mainland.

Chen Shui - bian


Input: Chaired by Academia Sinica president Lee Yuan - tseh, the Presidential Advisory Group on Cross-Strait Relations first met in early September.

Academia Sinica

the Presidential Advisory Group on Cross-Strait Relations

Lee Yuan - tseh

first

early September


Input: Since then the Group has held a series of intensive discussions on Taiwan's fundamental position regarding the cross-strait relationship.

Group

Taiwan


Input: The Group entered the final phase of discussions on the " one China " issue during November, but differences between pro-unification and pro-independence participants continued to stymie the effort to produce a statement acceptable to all.

Group

one

China

November


Input: As DPP legislator Shen Fu - hsiung pointed out, the Group had to draft something " palatable both to the pro-unification and pro-independence camps; something which the DPP can't shun and yet which doesn't make Beijing wince. "

DPP

Group

DPP

Shen Fu - hsiung

Beijing


Input: Clearly no easy task.


Input: On the evening of November 18 Advisory Group chairman Lee Yuan - tseh, meeting over dinner with DPP faction leaders, described the cross-strait situation as extremely precarious, and said that since time is not on Taiwan's side we need to step up efforts to resume dialogue with the mainland.

the evening of November 18

Advisory Group

DPP

Lee Yuan - tseh

Taiwan


Input: Separately, during his report to the Legislative Yuan on the Academia Sinica's budget, Lee reiterated: " If the whole population could arrive at a consensus on' one China,' then President Chen would have no grounds for not accepting that consensus. "

the Legislative Yuan

the Academia Sinica's

Lee

Chen

one

China


Input: Lee added that he hoped the Advisory Group would shortly come to a firm conclusion on the " one China " issue.

Lee

the Advisory Group

one

China


Input: Lee Yuan - tseh's appeal made little impression on the governing DPP, however.

Lee Yuan - tseh's

DPP


Input: Furthermore, DPP chairman Frank Hsieh himself came under fire within the party after stating: " The constitution of the ROC is itself a one China framework.

DPP

Frank Hsieh

ROC

China

one


Input: Since the DPP has participated in the process of constitutional amendment it ought to accept this constitution, and as the party of government we can't afford to override or reject it. "

DPP


Input: According to DPP lawmaker Lin Cho - shui, Chen Shui - bian has shown more goodwill to Beijing as president than Lee Teng - hui ever did, but without any response -

DPP

Lin Cho - shui

Chen Shui - bian

Lee Teng - hui

Beijing


Input: so why should he once again be expected to respond on the " one China " issue?

one

China


Input: Also, Lin disagrees with Lee Yuan - tseh's assertion that " time is not on our side, " and instead feels that things are no worse than before.

Lin

Lee Yuan - tseh's


Input: Meanwhile, the opposition alliance has been calling for the DPP to " shed its ideological baggage. "

DPP


Input: On November 24 the New Party, which had already pulled out of the Advisory Group, published an article in the press signed by leading members such as Yu Mu - ming and Chen Kui - miao, in which they called on the government to take the constitution as its starting point for breaking the " one China " deadlock.

November 24

the New Party

the Advisory Group

Yu Mu - ming

Chen Kui - miao

one

China


Input: They pointed out that Chen and the DPP had competed in elections in accordance with the constitution, winning the presidency and a share of seats in the legislature and the National Assembly, and had also participated in the process of revising the constitution.

Chen

DPP

the National Assembly


Input: Now, with its constitutionally granted mandate, the party has an obligation to fully uphold the constitution.


Input: As the politicians argued, Formosa Plastics boss Wang Yung - ching convened a meeting with other captains of industry to come up with some advice for the government on economic policy.

Formosa Plastics

Wang Yung - ching


Input: For the first time Wang voiced support for Lee Yuan - tseh's proposal that " with' one China' as the precondition, each side can have its own interpretation. "

first

Wang

Lee Yuan - tseh's

one

China


Input: Wang also agreed with Lee's notion that time is running out for Taiwan, in the belief that Taiwan will only have time on its side once it starts to carry out well - intentioned engagement with the mainland.

Wang

Lee

Taiwan

Taiwan


Input: Consensus on the " one China question " is an urgent priority for both sides if there is to be a peaceful future.

one

China


Input: Wang Yung - ching's demand for a review of the government's " go slow " policy, and opening of the three direct links, brought a personal phone call from the president, who invited him to come and discuss policy.

Wang Yung - ching's

three


Input: On November 25 Wang and a handful of other leading industrialists went to call on the president at his official residence.

November 25

Wang


Input: The businessmen said that shelving the " one China " issue was not the right thing for the government to do, and that Taiwan could no longer afford to play word games.

one

China

Taiwan


Input: They stressed the need for early restoration of the mechanism for cross-strait economic dialogue, and said that the government should also think about moving towards political dialogue.


Input: The Presidential Advisory Group met again on November 26, and discussed a proposal, made earlier by Public Television System chairman Wu Feng - shan and already favored by most members of the Group, for " one China " to be addressed through " three acknowledgements and four suggestions. "

The Presidential Advisory Group

Public Television System

Group

November 26

Wu Feng - shan

one

three

four

China


Input: A firm consensus was finally arrived at, and the Group submitted to the president its proposal that Taiwan should " respond to the mainland's' one China' proposition in accordance with the constitution of the ROC. "

Group

Taiwan

China

ROC

one


Input: The government and opposition parties continued to disagree regarding this consensus.


Input: DPP legislator Lin Cho - shui described it as " acceptable, if not very satisfactory. "

DPP

Lin Cho - shui


Input: PFP spokesman Li Ching - an called it " a conclusion without a conclusion. "

PFP

Li Ching - an


Input: New Party convenor Hau Lung - pin said the statement was too ambiguous, tending towards " one China, with each side free to make its own interpretation, " and added that it was highly unlikely to be used by the president as a guide for cross-strait policy.

New Party

Hau Lung - pin

one

China


Input: Ting Shou - chung, deputy executive director of the KMT policy committee, said this so - called consensus was simply a case of going round and round on the spot, and would do nothing to solve the core problem.

Ting Shou - chung

KMT


Input: In a November 28 press release, the Mainland Affairs Council -LRB- MAC -RRB-, the government body in charge of cross-strait affairs, diplomatically stated that it would observe and implement the suggestions of the Advisory Group if and when they become official government policy.

November 28

the Mainland Affairs Council

MAC

the Advisory Group


Input: Speaking on the topic of the three direct links, MAC chairwoman Tsai Ing - wen said that these will be phased in according to conditions, with the first phase being the opening of direct business links as necessitated by the admission of both sides to the WTO.

three

MAC

WTO

Tsai Ing - wen

first


Input: And according to economics minister Lin Hsin - yi, the government recognizes that the " go slow " policy needs to be relaxed, and will give a more thorough accounting of this before the end of the year.

Lin Hsin - yi

the end of the year


Input: Tanshui: An Inspiration to Poets, Artists, and Romantics

Tanshui


Input: -LRB- Lin I - hsien / photos by Diago Chiu / tr. by Phil Newell -RRB-

Lin I - hsien

Diago Chiu

Phil Newell


Input: In paintings, a white cloud layer swirls over Mt. Kuanyin;

Mt. Kuanyin


Input: waves on the river drift like a breeze;


Input: a red sun dances on golden water;


Input: a yellow moon sings from a deep purple sky....


Input: The Tanshui of illustrations is a place of unblemished beauty, a myth that remains unshakeable.

Tanshui


Input: In the 300 - plus years since its founding, this port town - formerly called Huwei, now Tanshui Township - has seen days of prosperity and has also been through a baptism of fire.

the 300 - plus years

Huwei

Tanshui Township


Input: What makes it special among the 309 urban and rural townships of Taiwan?

Taiwan


Input: How do the people of Tanshui live today?

Tanshui

today


Input: How do they recall the past?


Input: And how do they see the future?


Input: " You want to know how Tanshui has changed?

Tanshui


Input: I would say that the biggest change is that the old streets are gone. "


Input: So declares Tu Hsiu - yuan, proprietor of the Hui Yuan Pharmacy, and also director of the Huwei Cultural and Historical Workshop.

Tu Hsiu - yuan

the Hui Yuan Pharmacy

the Huwei Cultural and Historical Workshop


Input: His pharmacy is located on what is now called Chungcheng Road, one of the oldest streets, which Tanshui natives still call Huwei Street.

Chungcheng Road

Huwei Street

Tanshui


Input: Tu, who has lived his whole life in the old neighborhood, has watched from his doorstep as old shops have refurbished themselves in modern style, and modern shops have adopted the look of the old.

Tu


Input: For the convenience of cars, the streets have been widened repeatedly.


Input: In 1988, the last train on the old Tanshui Line of the railroad chugged into history, taking that old slower pace of life with it.

Tanshui Line


Input: In 1997 the Tanshui Line of the mass rapid transit system opened, bringing floods of visitors to the town.

the Tanshui Line


Input: Yet, while these tourists bring a human touch to the streets on weekends and holidays, on ordinary weekdays the silence is accompanied only by leftover garbage, empty shops, and those Huwei people who refuse to leave their old homes.

Huwei


Input: The golden age of Huwei

Huwei


Input: There are different explanations as to the origins of the word Huwei, the original name for Tanshui.

Huwei

Tanshui


Input: Some say it was a transliteration of the place name used by the indigenous people.


Input: But others say it comes from a long - gone fishing practice, using a shi hu -LRB- " stone pool " -RRB-.


Input: Early fishermen used stones to carve a long, narrow catchment -LRB- the so - called " pool " -RRB- in the sand, waiting for the tide to carry in fish which they could then easily scoop up.


Input: Since the place now known as Tanshui was at the tail end -LRB- wei -RRB- of this stone pool, it came to be called Huwei.

Tanshui

Huwei


Input: Tanshui occupied an important place in the transport network connecting Taiwan to Southeast Asia.

Tanshui

Taiwan

Southeast Asia


Input: Even before the arrival of Westerners in Taiwan, Han Chinese often crossed over from China to Tanshui, which is relatively close to the mainland.

Westerners

Han Chinese

Taiwan

China

Tanshui


Input: Here they engaged in barter trade with the Pingpu -LRB- meaning " plains " -RRB- aborigines, with deer skins and sulphur being the most coveted products.

Pingpu


Input: As Western powers turned their eyes to Asia, Tanshui became strategically important.

Western

Asia

Tanshui


Input: In the 17th century, first the Spanish, and then the Dutch, built forts here as symbols of their claims to territorial control.

the 17th century

Spanish

Dutch


Input: In the mid-17th century, China took control of Taiwan, and closed Tanshui to international trade.

the mid-17th century

China

Taiwan

Tanshui


Input: Later, as a result of the Sino - French war of 1884, Tanshui was again opened up to Western access.

Sino - French

Western

Tanshui


Input: During Tanshui's golden age, large and small boats were constantly coming and going in the harbor, and it was not unusual to see enormous steamships.

Tanshui


Input: In the latter part of the Qing dynasty, Tanshui was the largest port in Taiwan, and was the " customs headquarters, " also charged with overseeing port activities at Keelung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.

the latter part of the Qing dynasty

Tanshui

Taiwan

Keelung

Tainan

Kaohsiung


Input: However, during the Japanese occupation, as a result of silting, and because the Japanese invested a huge effort in developing the port at Keelung, Tanshui faded in importance, never again to see the likes of its glory days.

Japanese

Japanese

Keelung

Tanshui


Input: Tanshui is a place of many historic sites, a place that invites reflection on things past.

Tanshui


Input: In the " foreign district, " a missionary named George Mackay established the first hospital for Western medicine in Taiwan; it was here that in 1878 the first case of paragonimiasis in the world was diagnosed.

George Mackay

first

first

Western

Taiwan


Input: The old church next to the hospital is a mecca for Tanshui painters.

Tanshui


Input: The schools, homes, and consulates in the foreign district - some long gone, some still standing - testify to the fact that this was a place of intensive interaction between Chinese and Western cultures.

Chinese

Western


Input: If you go up Sanmin Street, you will discover the head of an old and disused water pipe.

Sanmin Street


Input: This could be a relic left behind by one of the major Japanese infrastructure projects, the first tap water station.

Japanese

first


Input: Or you could walk instead next to the MRT station and see another first for Taiwan: the first seaplane landing area, also built in the Japanese occupation era.

the MRT station

first

first

Taiwan

Japanese


Input: Or you could visit the venerable Tamkang Secondary School.

Tamkang Secondary School


Input: As you watch the children laughing and arguing and playing, you can think back to the time when the Japanese government did not allow Taiwanese and Japanese to attend school together.

Japanese

Taiwanese

Japanese


Input: Under those circumstances, Tamkang Middle School became a cradle for the training of Taiwanese elites.

Tamkang Middle School

Taiwanese


Input: Gradually you will discover that Tanshui is a bookish place.

Tanshui


Input: This little town has everything from nursery schools to graduate schools.


Input: During the reign of the Guangxu emperor of the Qing dynasty -LRB- which began in 1875 -RRB-, and prior to the beginning of the Japanese occupation in 1895, Tanshui produced two successful candidates in the highest level military exam, one in the highest level civil exam, and countless successes in lower - level imperial exams.

Guangxu

Tanshui

the Qing dynasty

Japanese

two

one


Input: Even in modern times, the town has not passed up chances to embrace knowledge: When the idea of founding Tam - kang University in Tanshui was going to be abandoned because of a lack of land and money, local residents offered cheap land, donated money, and lobbied so that the university could set its roots in town.

Tam - kang University

Tanshui


Input: These historic sites are near the river, but don't spend all your time there.


Input: Don't forget the Tatun Mountains, which shelter the town.

the Tatun Mountains


Input: In the old days, Tanshui folk who cultivated farms on the slopes had to walk for an hour to get to their crops.

Tanshui

an hour


Input: These days you can take a local mini-bus.


Input: In the mountains you will see the occasional terraced field grown over with weeds.


Input: This land, which has gone from grass to grain and back to grass again, is where many an old Tanshui native played when they were children.

Tanshui