The top official in charge of Taiwan’s push for closer economic ties with Southeast Asia and India says that the so-called “new southbound policy” is not aimed at finding a replacement for trade with China.
The official – New Southbound Policy Office Director James Huang – was responding on Friday to recent comments from the head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhang Zhijun. Zhang had said that the “southbound policy” went against economic principles. He said that Taiwan’s exports to China are massive and that it would be impossible to find other markets to act as a replacement.
Huang responded in a radio interview, saying that the goal was not to decrease trade with China.
“I want to make it clear that our reason for creating the ‘new southbound policy’ was not because there would be any change to cross-strait trade ties," said Huang.
"All of the major countries in the world are actively engaging with ASEAN nations, and to be honest, Mainland China has been working with ASEAN nations for longer than we have, and with who knows how much greater force.”
Huang said that the “new southbound policy” is economic, not political. He said the policy speaks the language of industry, while Zhang speaks the language of politics.
Huang said that what Taiwan can offer Southeast Asian nations is different from what China can offer. He said that China is pushing plans for large-scale infrastructure projects, while Taiwan’s strength lies in agricultural and aquacultural technology, shipbuilding, technical and vocational training, and information and communications technology.