Hope! US can reverse the Anti-US feeling.

[keithbj]

I would be the first person to raise my hand for my Anti-American feeling. But if you live out side the US and you look at what BUSH and the GOP have done you might understand why this feeling is there. Most people around the world have been watching this election very close. The big fear was another GOP win. Hopefully with the win by Obama/Biden this will be reversed.
Speaking as someone in Taiwan, ROC (Republic Of China) this will.
1. Change US foreign policy.
2. Take a tougher stand on human rights in the PRC (People's Republic Of China).
3. Not make the US seem a John Wayne movie.
5. Start talks with countries like Cuba, Iran, Syria, and the DPRK.
6. Join the world on the reduction of C02 emissions.
7. Take a more active role in the UN.
8. Don't shoot first ask questions later (Iraq).
9. Make the US more open to others and not so close as it has become.
10. Stop pushing its views thinking only the US is right.
The world wants to work with the US, but since 2001 it's been the US working on its own and the rest of the international community just pushing the US further away on many issues. I hope this can be reversed.

 

[uflyguy]

But if you live out side the US and you look at what BUSH and the GOP have done you might understand why this feeling is there. but since 2001 it's been the US working on its own and the rest of the international community just pushing the US further away on many issues. I hope this can be reversed.

From someone living inside the US look at what Bush and the GOP have done and you might understand why so many of us are happy tonight. And please keep in mind that, yes, you are partially correct in that its the US working on its own, but even more than that, its PART of the US working on its own agenda and that doesnt mean that everyone here agrees with it.
Heres to a better world in 2009!

 

[cityboy-stl]

It can't but help. The tone of his speech tonight is things are different. For the first time in years I have some hope again.

 

[Fucker29]

I think things will certainly change for the better now. Obviously, and like Obama stated, it won't happen overnight but gradually we'll get there.

 

[Puzuzzu]

yeah, the international will begin to respect the USA more.

 

[Andross]

yeah, the international will begin to respect the USA more.

Respect is not what the U.S. needs from the world. The U.S. needs to regain trust. Bush abused the world's goodwill after 9/11. If Obama can keep his promises and maybe doesn't start wars on his own, that will be a start. But I am afraid it will take longer than one presidential term and several good and selfless deeds to repair all the damage Bush and his cronies have done to the reputation of the U.S. in the world.

Military attacks on innocent people (like yet another air strike on a wedding ceremony that happened today in Afghanistan) should be a thing of the past when Obama becomes Commander of the U.S. armed forces.

 

[PrinceOwen]

I hope so !!!!!

 

[Corny]

There have been always anti-US feelings as there have been anti-west feelings. but lately the west got an anti-us feeling, too. and THAT was/is your problem. i don't have a problem with any american or people of american origin that i know personally, yet i can fully understand if one has a negative stance on americans.
the problem is that you only hear the one who scream the loudest, and we all know what kind of people were leaving the lasting impressions for the last years. a not so fucked up president is a good start - but it's not the all-in-one cure. time will tell, but the signs are good, the overall attitude towards america was noticeably better today - everybody is relieved because of that election outcome.

 

[Puzuzzu]

Respect is not what the U.S. needs from the world. The U.S. needs to regain trust. Bush abused the world's goodwill after 9/11. If Obama can keep his promises and maybe doesn't start wars on his own, that will be a start. But I am afraid it will take longer than one presidential term and several good and selfless deeds to repair all the damage Bush and his cronies have done to the reputation of the U.S. in the world.

Military attacks on innocent people (like yet another air strike on a wedding ceremony that happened today in Afghanistan) should be a thing of the past when Obama becomes Commander of the U.S. armed forces.

True, true, though i just threw respect out, though i was thinking along the lines of trust\respect etc.

 

[backpacker]

I would be the first person to raise my hand for my Anti-American feeling. But if you live out side the US and you look at what BUSH and the GOP have done you might understand why this feeling is there. Most people around the world have been watching this election very close. The big fear was another GOP win. Hopefully with the win by Obama/Biden this will be reversed.
Speaking as someone in Taiwan, ROC (Republic Of China) this will.
1. Change US foreign policy.
2. Take a tougher stand on human rights in the PRC (People's Republic Of China).
3. Not make the US seem a John Wayne movie.
5. Start talks with countries like Cuba, Iran, Syria, and the DPRK.
6. Join the world on the reduction of C02 emissions.
7. Take a more active role in the UN.
8. Don't shoot first ask questions later (Iraq).
9. Make the US more open to others and not so close as it has become.
10. Stop pushing its views thinking only the US is right.
The world wants to work with the US, but since 2001 it's been the US working on its own and the rest of the international community just pushing the US further away on many issues. I hope this can be reversed.

This is one of the most ignorant posts I have ever read. Let me take them point by point.

1) Change US foreign policy - You're the last one that should be hoping for a change in US foreign policy. Just imagine what would happen if the US stopped supporting Taiwan independence. In reality that change would be in the best interest of the U.S.

2) Take a tougher stance on Human Rights. Let's see, the U.S. has been at the forefront on human rights issues. The funny thing is if we do anything we are criticize for interfering (your point 10) and if we don't we hear about how we should have done something (your point 2).

3) John Wayne movie. Get over your penis envy.

4) - you didn't have a number 4.

5) Why should the U.S. be the one to start talks? Do you say that because the U.N. has become a totally ineffective entity?

6) CO2 - Taiwan is absolutely the most polluted place I have traveled. I have traveled extensively through mainland China, which is very polluted, but not as bad a Taiwan. Clean up your own air. Once you approach the standard that already exists in the U.S., then you can start complaining.

7) Take a more active role in the UN. The US is very active in the UN. Unfortunately the UN has proved to be a very ineffective entity. That's not the fault of the US, but rather many other nations that failed to follow the resolutions that were passed by the UN. The Iraq situation would have never occurred if the UN hadn't failed in inspections and to enforce their resolutions.

8) We didn't shoot first and ask later. The US spent considerable effort working with the UN. The US actions are a direct result of the UN's failure to follow its own resolutions. The US also made many attempts to get weapon inspectors back into Iraq. The UN should have never allowed the inspectors to leave and we wouldn't have the issue. The other member nations who were trading with Iraq in violation of UN resolutions shouldn't have been profiting by Iraq's bad deeds. The US didn't create the problem in Iraq, the UN and it's member countries allowed the problem to be created.

9) Please give me a list of countries that are more open than the US. It sure won't include any countries in your part of the world. Once again, worry about your own country and less about the US. The visa process for visitors from China on legitimate business can take months and still may not get approved. Funny how China allows Taiwanese easy entry into China, but the Taiwanese put up all kinds of road blocks for the Chinese to visit Taiwan. Taiwan also has heavy restrictions on foreign ownership of companies.

10) We have a right to our views. The US has been responsible for more good work than any other country in the world. Just think where Taiwan would be if the US kept our views to ourselves.

Worry more about your own country and less about the US.

 

[keithbj]

1. The US has never supported Taiwan independence. Never never never! The US just sticks to the 3 sino/us agreements signed in the 70s and the one China Policy. The UHAS NEVER SUPPORTED TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE!

2. Taiwan has the toughest emission controls in Asia. Every international agency has said this. There has almost been no smog in Taipei since 1996, we have a 22% C02 tax on electricity and cars, trucks need to be tested every year.

3. If the US took a strong position on human rights it would be stronger towards China. But its not.

4. countries more open than the US. Let's see: Canada, Holland, Sweden, France, Germany, Aust, New Zea, UK, Den, Fin, Nor., ROK, Japan, Thai, M'Asia, Viet.

5. Foreign ownership of companies in Taiwan is so easy. Should I list the MSE?

6. Japan has been a more stronger support of Taiwan.

7. Simple for VISA for people from China. 1. the fear of them coming here and not going back, 2. Chinese who come here always run into problems the same kind when they go to Hong Kong.

8. The US lied to the world about WMD's in Iraq. No one like Sadam, but he was not a threat.

9. You have to admit many people in the last 8 years have seen the US as a land of cowboys, because of the twit who was running the country.

10. Your right the UN has problems, but look at it. They let countries like China sit on the human rights body. That would be like if Hitler and the Nazi Party were in an agency to protect the rights of Jews.

5.

This is one of the most ignorant posts I have ever read. Let me take them point by point.

1) Change US foreign policy - You're the last one that should be hoping for a change in US foreign policy. Just imagine what would happen if the US stopped supporting Taiwan independence. In reality that change would be in the best interest of the U.S.

2) Take a tougher stance on Human Rights. Let's see, the U.S. has been at the forefront on human rights issues. The funny thing is if we do anything we are criticize for interfering (your point 10) and if we don't we hear about how we should have done something (your point 2).

3) John Wayne movie. Get over your penis envy.

4) - you didn't have a number 4.

5) Why should the U.S. be the one to start talks? Do you say that because the U.N. has become a totally ineffective entity?

6) CO2 - Taiwan is absolutely the most polluted place I have traveled. I have traveled extensively through mainland China, which is very polluted, but not as bad a Taiwan. Clean up your own air. Once you approach the standard that already exists in the U.S., then you can start complaining.

7) Take a more active role in the UN. The US is very active in the UN. Unfortunately the UN has proved to be a very ineffective entity. That's not the fault of the US, but rather many other nations that failed to follow the resolutions that were passed by the UN. The Iraq situation would have never occurred if the UN hadn't failed in inspections and to enforce their resolutions.

8) We didn't shoot first and ask later. The US spent considerable effort working with the UN. The US actions are a direct result of the UN's failure to follow its own resolutions. The US also made many attempts to get weapon inspectors back into Iraq. The UN should have never allowed the inspectors to leave and we wouldn't have the issue. The other member nations who were trading with Iraq in violation of UN resolutions shouldn't have been profiting by Iraq's bad deeds. The US didn't create the problem in Iraq, the UN and it's member countries allowed the problem to be created.

9) Please give me a list of countries that are more open than the US. It sure won't include any countries in your part of the world. Once again, worry about your own country and less about the US. The visa process for visitors from China on legitimate business can take months and still may not get approved. Funny how China allows Taiwanese easy entry into China, but the Taiwanese put up all kinds of road blocks for the Chinese to visit Taiwan. Taiwan also has heavy restrictions on foreign ownership of companies.

10) We have a right to our views. The US has been responsible for more good work than any other country in the world. Just think where Taiwan would be if the US kept our views to ourselves.

Worry more about your own country and less about the US.

 

[backpacker]

1. Call it whatever you want. Taiwan operates independently from China for the most part. If not for the strong support of the US, I doubt such independence would exist. You need to look at all the support since WWII.

2. I do realize the Taiwan has implemented tough emission standards and I hope that eventually the air quality will become much better. Taiwan's air is still very dirty, especially in the southern part of the island. Additionally, looking at raw standards can be very deceiving. The standard to be met depends highly on the testing methods. The US has far stricter testing methods than most countries. For example, vehicles emissions standards in the EU appear to be much stricter than the US. The reality is that vehicles that easily passed EU emissions standards often fail US standards. The US requires that standards to met during the entire useful life of the vehicle whereas the EU does not.

3. You want the US to take a strong stance on the items you agree with, but don't push items you don't agree with. In other words, you are talking out both sides of your mouth.

4. You are joking. The combined immigration of all those countries probably doesn't even equal the US. The closest country in the list is Germany with roughly 1/5 the immigration of the US. The US has the highest total immigration and the highest as a percent of population.

5. My understanding is that it's easy for foreigners to own stock in Taiwanese companies, but not to have controlling interest in the companies.

6. It's far more in Japan's national interest to support Taiwan than it's in the US national interest. With that said, without US support over the last 60 years I sincerely doubt Taiwan would be an independent as it is now.

7. No, it's very difficult to receive an approved visa for Chinese to come to Taiwan. I wanted to bring my employee from China to assist in a contract negotiation in Taiwan and even with the assistance of the Taiwanese company it was still going to take months.

8. I don't agree with your statement. The US, UK and other countries had intelligence that indicated Iraq was working on WMD. I realize that there was some conflicting intelligence and people had to make judgment calls based upon the information available. Once again, we would have never been in the position if not for the total failure of the UN to enforce its resolutions. Also, the fact that WMD was never found doesn't mean that they weren't working on it or it didn't exist. Finding it is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Iraq is one big hay stack and the WMD could be almost as small as a needle. I will acknowledge that it probably doesn't exist. I want to know where the outrage is for the countries that were violating the sanctions on exports to Iraq. They really allowed Iraq to be in a position that made WMD even a possibility.

9. I realize that some have tried to tear down the US in the last 8 years because they fear the US has become too powerful.

10. I think you make my point perfectly about the failures of the UN. It's really nothing more than a relief agency. The rest is just dysfunctional.

Once again you should focus more on your own country. It's hard to take Taiwan as a shining example when your elected officials are known for brawling when they can't agree.

I actually don't dislike Taiwan at all. I'm just pointing out that every country has some issues and people should worry more about solving their own issues rather than trying to tear down the US.

1. The US has never supported Taiwan independence. Never never never! The US just sticks to the 3 sino/us agreements signed in the 70s and the one China Policy. The UHAS NEVER SUPPORTED TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE!

2. Taiwan has the toughest emission controls in Asia. Every international agency has said this. There has almost been no smog in Taipei since 1996, we have a 22% C02 tax on electricity and cars, trucks need to be tested every year.

3. If the US took a strong position on human rights it would be stronger towards China. But its not.

4. countries more open than the US. Let's see: Canada, Holland, Sweden, France, Germany, Aust, New Zea, UK, Den, Fin, Nor., ROK, Japan, Thai, M'Asia, Viet.

5. Foreign ownership of companies in Taiwan is so easy. Should I list the MSE?

6. Japan has been a more stronger support of Taiwan.

7. Simple for VISA for people from China. 1. the fear of them coming here and not going back, 2. Chinese who come here always run into problems the same kind when they go to Hong Kong.

8. The US lied to the world about WMD's in Iraq. No one like Sadam, but he was not a threat.

9. You have to admit many people in the last 8 years have seen the US as a land of cowboys, because of the twit who was running the country.

10. Your right the UN has problems, but look at it. They let countries like China sit on the human rights body. That would be like if Hitler and the Nazi Party were in an agency to protect the rights of Jews.

5.

 

[keithbj]

Earlier on you said the US supports Taiwan independence. If that was the case Taiwan would already be independent.
Taiwan does not use coal for power like the US. Taiwan's emission controls equal the EU and Japan. Very tough.
Southern Taiwan is an industrial hub. Second do you know how "dirty air" blows to east asia from China?
Foreign companies owned and operated by foreigners are:
Ikea
Carrefour
Apple
Ford
GM
Volvo
BMW
Nokia
LG
Tascam
Philips
ING
HSBC
Blockbuster Video
the list goes on and one

When did you try to bring a mainlander to Taiwan? This year it changed.

1. Call it whatever you want. Taiwan operates independently from China for the most part. If not for the strong support of the US, I doubt such independence would exist. You need to look at all the support since WWII.

2. I do realize the Taiwan has implemented tough emission standards and I hope that eventually the air quality will become much better. Taiwan's air is still very dirty, especially in the southern part of the island. Additionally, looking at raw standards can be very deceiving. The standard to be met depends highly on the testing methods. The US has far stricter testing methods than most countries. For example, vehicles emissions standards in the EU appear to be much stricter than the US. The reality is that vehicles that easily passed EU emissions standards often fail US standards. The US requires that standards to met during the entire useful life of the vehicle whereas the EU does not.

If Taiwan was truly independent it would be able to join orgs like the WHO, and be able to join international sports events as Taiwan. As it stands not its Chinese Taipei.

I agree with your about political figures in Taiwan. But don't forget democracy is still very young here less than 20 years.

Many people in Taiwan feel that the US let us down. Through the 60s, 70s and 80s the US was pushing Taiwan on human rights and political reform. And then when this happened the US stopped supporting Taiwan to join the international community and then ran to China. Do you understand? The feeling is. Wait you put pressure on us to become a democracy and clean up our human rights record which was one of the worst in Asia. We did this and then you turned you back and started supporting China who's human rights record is not 10 times worse than our ever was. the question we ask is why?

China's control of Taiwan was very short. 1945 to 1949. Before that Japan which built almost all of Taipei, before the Japanese you can't really count the Ming or Qing Dynasties as they didn't have control. Go back further the Dutch who built Tainan and before that the Portuguese.

3. You want the US to take a strong stance on the items you agree with, but don't push items you don't agree with. In other words, you are talking out both sides of your mouth.

4. You are joking. The combined immigration of all those countries probably doesn't even equal the US. The closest country in the list is Germany with roughly 1/5 the immigration of the US. The US has the highest total immigration and the highest as a percent of population.

5. My understanding is that it's easy for foreigners to own stock in Taiwanese companies, but not to have controlling interest in the companies.

6. It's far more in Japan's national interest to support Taiwan than it's in the US national interest. With that said, without US support over the last 60 years I sincerely doubt Taiwan would be an independent as it is now.

7. No, it's very difficult to receive an approved visa for Chinese to come to Taiwan. I wanted to bring my employee from China to assist in a contract negotiation in Taiwan and even with the assistance of the Taiwanese company it was still going to take months.

8. I don't agree with your statement. The US, UK and other countries had intelligence that indicated Iraq was working on WMD. I realize that there was some conflicting intelligence and people had to make judgment calls based upon the information available. Once again, we would have never been in the position if not for the total failure of the UN to enforce its resolutions. Also, the fact that WMD was never found doesn't mean that they weren't working on it or it didn't exist. Finding it is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Iraq is one big hay stack and the WMD could be almost as small as a needle. I will acknowledge that it probably doesn't exist. I want to know where the outrage is for the countries that were violating the sanctions on exports to Iraq. They really allowed Iraq to be in a position that made WMD even a possibility.

9. I realize that some have tried to tear down the US in the last 8 years because they fear the US has become too powerful.

10. I think you make my point perfectly about the failures of the UN. It's really nothing more than a relief agency. The rest is just dysfunctional.

Once again you should focus more on your own country. It's hard to take Taiwan as a shining example when your elected officials are known for brawling when they can't agree.

I actually don't dislike Taiwan at all. I'm just pointing out that every country has some issues and people should worry more about solving their own issues rather than trying to tear down the US.

 

[backpacker]

Note, I didn't say it was impossible for foreign ownership, just that Taiwan makes it difficult.

The US has been a very strong supporter of Taiwan's right to be an autonomous state. Maybe that's a better term than saying independence. What you are really saying is that if the US had forced its beliefs on China that Taiwan would be totally independent. But at the same time you say the US should not force our beliefs on the rest of the world. You want to have your cake and eat it to. The world just doesn't work like that. You also note what a big supporter Japan is of Taiwan. Let's not forget that Japan is part of the root cause of the problem in the first place. Both by having occupied Taiwan for approximately 50 years and their actions in WWII. Had Japan let Taiwan be an independent country when it was under their control, we probably wouldn't have an issue today. Do you remember in 1999 when their was a big push by China to control Taiwan and the US passed a law saying that the US would use military force to defend Taiwan if attacked by China? Would you have preferred that we kept our opinion to ourselves? What about all the financial and military aid we gave to Taiwan for decades to allow it to remain autonomous? Without the US support there is no ROC today.

You also want the US to push harder for human rights, but you have a problem with the US actions in Iraq which was one of the worse human rights violators in the world. Give me a break.

Do you mean it's OK to have lots of pollution in the industrial cities as long as the capital's air is clean? You and I both know the air quality in Kaohsiung is disgusting. I do agree that all countries in the world should adopt stringent emissions requirements. Unfortunately the reality is that countries who adopt those standards are sending their factory jobs to countries who don't. I sure wish that the UN wasn't so irrelevant. What we really need is a UN resolution requiring all member countries to adopt those requirement and to charge a substantial pollution tariff on all imports from countries that don't. Essentially we should make products from countries who don't meet the standards more expensive than those who do. The UN could have emission monitors and certify compliance. Of course I know that's not the mission of the UN, but it should be.

I tried to bring in employees from China in 2005 and 2006. I'm glad to hear that reforms have taken place.

 

[keithbj]

Its not just the US when it come to the Taiwan issue. We just just see it as the rest of the world is kissing the ass of the communist party and China. I find it funny when I hear the West complain about the poor quality of Chinese goods. It's is there own fault. You get what you pay for. You know a well as I that all the quality issues that came up in 2007 and this year had to do with the west wanting cheap goods. Also look how much foreign deposits China owns over the US. What happen to you? China is now in a position to totally bankrupt the US if it wants. Most western companies when they see China see 1.3 billion people. Here in Taiwan the Made In China label is a hot potato. Here most people don't mind paying more if it means not coming from China. It is almost as if American's don't have any pride in the Made in the USA label. On my last trip to the US I was amazed at how much is made in China. I found it to be much higher than the EU.
IBM sold its notebook unit to Lenovo. yuck
Boeing now getting parts made in China.
In early 2007 Dailmer-Benz who has a partner ship with FAW (First Auto Works) based in Beijing discovered that there Chinese partner was making fake Benz cars and shipping them to India. Sony also discovered the same thing.

Your said "What you are really saying is that if the US had forced its beliefs on China that Taiwan would be totally independent. But at the same time you say the US should not force our beliefs on the rest of the world. You want to have your cake and eat it."

What I mean is the US should have never promised to support independence for Taiwan. A statement was made by the Reagan government in 1986 when the DPP was founded. Instead all there doing is kissing the ass of communist.

Note, I didn't say it was impossible for foreign ownership, just that Taiwan makes it difficult.

The US has been a very strong supporter of Taiwan's right to be an autonomous state. Maybe that's a better term than saying independence. What you are really saying is that if the US had forced its beliefs on China that Taiwan would be totally independent. But at the same time you say the US should not force our beliefs on the rest of the world. You want to have your cake and eat it to. The world just doesn't work like that. You also note what a big supporter Japan is of Taiwan. Let's not forget that Japan is part of the root cause of the problem in the first place. Both by having occupied Taiwan for approximately 50 years and their actions in WWII. Had Japan let Taiwan be an independent country when it was under their control, we probably wouldn't have an issue today. Do you remember in 1999 when their was a big push by China to control Taiwan and the US passed a law saying that the US would use military force to defend Taiwan if attacked by China? Would you have preferred that we kept our opinion to ourselves? What about all the financial and military aid we gave to Taiwan for decades to allow it to remain autonomous? Without the US support there is no ROC today.

You also want the US to push harder for human rights, but you have a problem with the US actions in Iraq which was one of the worse human rights violators in the world. Give me a break.

Do you mean it's OK to have lots of pollution in the industrial cities as long as the capital's air is clean? You and I both know the air quality in Kaohsiung is disgusting. I do agree that all countries in the world should adopt stringent emissions requirements. Unfortunately the reality is that countries who adopt those standards are sending their factory jobs to countries who don't. I sure wish that the UN wasn't so irrelevant. What we really need is a UN resolution requiring all member countries to adopt those requirement and to charge a substantial pollution tariff on all imports from countries that don't. Essentially we should make products from countries who don't meet the standards more expensive than those who do. The UN could have emission monitors and certify compliance. Of course I know that's not the mission of the UN, but it should be.

I tried to bring in employees from China in 2005 and 2006. I'm glad to hear that reforms have taken place.

 

[backpacker]

As you may be aware, many Taiwanese companies have moved their plants to mainland China. Many others are importing components from mainland China. The net result is that quality difference between Taiwanese and Chinese products have been greatly reduced, while Taiwanese products are far more expensive. I hear from customers all the time "Why should a pay a Taiwanese price for Chinese quality". My cost for similar products from China is approximately half the cost from Taiwan. My customers were willing to pay that for quality products, but in the last three years the quality of Taiwanese products has declined sharply. At the same time China has made great strides in improving their quality. I sure wish Taiwan was in a better position.

The Taiwanese are doing business with mainland China just like all the other countries you complain about. The China of today is vastly different than the China of 30 or 40 years ago. While a lot of improvement has been made, there is still much more improvement needed. I personally think that as the Chinese people prosper they will demand more from their government.

 

[keithbj]

Thats because Taiwan can not compete with prices from China. But look at the recalls that in the last 2 years started coming from China
Most recent dairy products and eggs
Sony recalled 3 models of DV cameras
Samsung recalled 2 models of TVs that could cause fire
Levels of PCB discovered in cloths
The list goes on and on.

How can we compete when people get paid less than 2000RMB a month? The worst one are the Taiwanese who opened factories in China cause they didn't want to play by the rules here. A new law was passed in January this year, that if a Taiwanese closes his factory here and relocated to China he is fined upto 200,000USD. So far 35 people have been fined and closed there factories in China. Starting last year many factories started closing in China. In the Pearl Delta they have been they have seen a decrease of around 37% in the last 18 months. Some have been coming back to Taiwan others have gone to M'Asia. Apple is closing its Shanghai production and is moving part of it to Taiwan and Singapore. The reason? The CEO of Apple Asia said at Taicom conference that the reason was because of the "fake apple" products being made by the same factory and sold as apple. Many others are having the same problem. The question many people are asking is how do you stop fake or copied products when the government who's job is to stop it is involved.
The government in the US needs to pass laws that prevent US companies from going to places like China and keep production in the US. An example I can thing of. I remember when RCA was producing TV sets in New Jersery, then the company was sold to Thomson Electronics what did they do? They closed the US plant and move production to Mexico and China and now RCA has become what someone called Walmart quality. Phillips in the 90s moved most of its production to China, but then a few years ago started to move most of its production base back to Europe. The reason was European customers were complaining about quality issues. The production they now have left in China serves China and US. Here in Taiwan there was a backlash against a company called Datong Electric. Datong was for many years partnered with GE. In 2003 the closed there Yilin plant and moved it to China. Yes prices dropped and so did sales and in 2007 moved production back to China.

What is your feeling about the Gelie car made in China that is expected to be sold in the US early next year? Do you see that as another Lada, Volga or Yugo? Communism great contribution to the automotive industry.

As you may be aware, many Taiwanese companies have moved their plants to mainland China. Many others are importing components from mainland China. The net result is that quality difference between Taiwanese and Chinese products have been greatly reduced, while Taiwanese products are far more expensive. I hear from customers all the time "Why should a pay a Taiwanese price for Chinese quality". My cost for similar products from China is approximately half the cost from Taiwan. My customers were willing to pay that for quality products, but in the last three years the quality of Taiwanese products has declined sharply. At the same time China has made great strides in improving their quality. I sure wish Taiwan was in a better position.

The Taiwanese are doing business with mainland China just like all the other countries you complain about. The China of today is vastly different than the China of 30 or 40 years ago. While a lot of improvement has been made, there is still much more improvement needed. I personally think that as the Chinese people prosper they will demand more from their government.

 

[backpacker]

Don't get me started on the reforms that are needed to level the playing field for products. I would hope all countries would insure workers received wages necessary to have a decent standard of living, but I know that doesn't always happen. I do know that wages in China have risen over time, but not enough. I think the workers will eventually demand better, as has happened in every industrialized country at some point. Other concerns are pollution, unsafe working conditions, products often aren't made to specifications (including mandatory government standards) and intellectual property rights.

Sample products submitted for testing meet all requirements, but then corners are cut in mass production. Just look at the Mattel toy issue. It was very convenient to blame it on a subcontractor, but, based upon my experience, I seriously doubt that the primary factory didn't know. I have factories all the time say they can mark the product as one thing, but really give me something else at a better price. That's not something I'm interested in; it's wrong, not to mention the potential government fines and product liability lawsuits. I simply choose not to do business with factories that make such offers. I will say it's far more prevalent with Chinese companies, but I have had such offers from Taiwanese companies as well. You are definitely right about the knock offs (counterfeit products); that's a huge issue with China.

I really think manufacturing reforms should be an issue that the UN should be handling. If the industrialize countries of the world were united, the practices can be sharply curtailed. I avoided Chinese products for a long time, but when the customers are demanding the price and the Taiwanese quality had fallen, I had no choice. It was either sell Chinese products or go out of business. The Chinese factories are also flushed with cash and are spending far more money on R&D. They are far more responsive to change requests and customization.

Funny you should mention Geely cars. I actually have a lot of knowledge about Geely cars as we were approached by Geely about distributing their cars in the US a few years ago. The cars are total crap. There are much better cars made in China, but most have intellectual property rights issues. I wouldn't be surprised if similar issues exist with Geely. The management of Geely doesn't have a clue and I will be very surprised if they are successful. They failed in their other business ventures where success was far easier to achieve.

Thats because Taiwan can not compete with prices from China. But look at the recalls that in the last 2 years started coming from China
Most recent dairy products and eggs
Sony recalled 3 models of DV cameras
Samsung recalled 2 models of TVs that could cause fire
Levels of PCB discovered in cloths
The list goes on and on.

How can we compete when people get paid less than 2000RMB a month? The worst one are the Taiwanese who opened factories in China cause they didn't want to play by the rules here. A new law was passed in January this year, that if a Taiwanese closes his factory here and relocated to China he is fined upto 200,000USD. So far 35 people have been fined and closed there factories in China. Starting last year many factories started closing in China. In the Pearl Delta they have been they have seen a decrease of around 37% in the last 18 months. Some have been coming back to Taiwan others have gone to M'Asia. Apple is closing its Shanghai production and is moving part of it to Taiwan and Singapore. The reason? The CEO of Apple Asia said at Taicom conference that the reason was because of the "fake apple" products being made by the same factory and sold as apple. Many others are having the same problem. The question many people are asking is how do you stop fake or copied products when the government who's job is to stop it is involved.
The government in the US needs to pass laws that prevent US companies from going to places like China and keep production in the US. An example I can thing of. I remember when RCA was producing TV sets in New Jersery, then the company was sold to Thomson Electronics what did they do? They closed the US plant and move production to Mexico and China and now RCA has become what someone called Walmart quality. Phillips in the 90s moved most of its production to China, but then a few years ago started to move most of its production base back to Europe. The reason was European customers were complaining about quality issues. The production they now have left in China serves China and US. Here in Taiwan there was a backlash against a company called Datong Electric. Datong was for many years partnered with GE. In 2003 the closed there Yilin plant and moved it to China. Yes prices dropped and so did sales and in 2007 moved production back to China.

What is your feeling about the Gelie car made in China that is expected to be sold in the US early next year? Do you see that as another Lada, Volga or Yugo? Communism great contribution to the automotive industry.