Beyond Taiwan (Comparison of Economy between Guangdong and Taiwan)

Author: Chen Yun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: Guangdong and Taiwan are both provinces in southern China. They are geographically close and share similar climates, making them comparable. Over the past decade, the economy of Guangdong has undergone tremendous changes. Its economic core is expected to surpass Taiwan in 2003, and its local gross domestic product (GDP) will fully surpass Taiwan around 2010. By 2020, the economic output of Guangdong will be twice that of Taiwan at the time. This book not only outlines a detailed timeline for Guangdong's economic surpassing of Taiwan but also proposes methods and strategies for achieving this goal. In the analysis of this book, we conduct a "one-on-one" comparison between Taiwan and Guangdong across various fields, directly citing public statistics, website data, and newspaper information from both sides, supplemented by the author's observations and experiences in Taiwan. The language used is straightforward and easily understandable to the general public, showcasing the current state of Taiwan and Guangdong. Among the dozens of pictures of Taiwan selected by the author, the majority reflect the reality or beauty of Taiwan, with no intention of belittling it. Due to limited expertise and the pressures of time, there may be errors in this book. We welcome criticism and corrections from our readers. The author's email address is: chenyunl88@hotmail.com
Through comparison, we can clearly see that: due to its fatal geographical weaknesses, the economy of Taiwan has reached a dangerous critical point. It may follow Japan's path and fall into long-term fluctuations and decline. However, if Taiwan can return to the embrace of the motherland early on, its geographical weaknesses will disappear, and Taiwan will usher in a brighter future.
Guangdong is an economic powerhouse in China. However, in recent years, its development momentum has not kept pace with that of the Yangtze River Delta region. Over the next 17 years, Guangdong will face the challenge of maintaining sustained, high-speed economic growth, which is far from easy. The main contradiction in Guangdong's economy in the future is: insufficient manufacturing and investment. Therefore, Guangdong must not only maintain its current development momentum but also find every possible way to raise funds and strengthen investment in manufacturing. Without a strong manufacturing sector, Guangdong cannot become an economic powerhouse.
At the same time, in terms of geopolitical strategy, Guangdong must take the initiative: internally, it should leverage the historical opportunity of China's western development to strengthen cooperation with western provinces and expand its market base; externally, it should move beyond the "Hong Kong, Taiwan complex" and seek closer ties with advanced industrialized countries in Europe and America, striving to build Guangdong into a true economic powerhouse.