China!

The ambivalence of U.S. policy towards China may be perhaps best characterized by the incident of the spy airplane back in 2001. While gathering intelligence off the coast of China, a U.S. Navy EP-3 electronic spy plane, piloted by Lt. Osborn collides in mid-air with a Chinese F-8 and is forced to make an emergency landing at Hainan Island. The Chinese pilot, Wang Wei, is killed in the incident. China charges that the U.S. plane illegally entered Chinese airspace, and detains the 24 U.S. crew members for 11 days. It demands that the U.S. take full responsibility for the incident and issue a full apology. In the end, the United States offers a letter in which it says it is "very sorry" for the loss of the Chinese pilot and "very sorry" that the aircraft landed in China without permission. The damaged U.S. airplane is not returned for three months. Together with the letter of apologies, however, China also gets a U.S. aircraft carrier battlegroup of the Seventh Fleet permanently stationed off the coast of Taiwan.

On the other hand, Chinese ambivalence towards the United States can be perhaps best described by the statement of a Chinese official to a visiting American delegation to Shanghai in 2001: "I surely hope that you and the American economy do well in this global slowdown, because your economic interests and your economic development are critical to the welfare of the people in Shanghai and China.". This remarks comes at a time while China is intent at stealing U.S. military secrets from Martin Lockheed - and it is caught with both hands in the bag doing so.

And then, of course, American and Chinese joint ambivalence towards the rest of the world must be perhaps encapsulated in the philantropic website maintained at http://www.uschina.org/ where both sides are trying to convince the rest of us in English - and for those who do not get it the first time around, in Chinese - that seldom have there been in the history of humanity two great pals like the Bald Eagle and the Red Dragon. Well ... well ...

China's giant leap towards a Western-style, capitalistic economy presents an increasingly urgent set of challenges that must be resolved by the leading elite if they hope to sustain the miraculous economic growth, which has averaged eight percent a year for the past decade. When you consider that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has 1.3 billion people, more than four times the population of the United States, the implications of its radical economic transformation are sobering. In 2004 the Chinese added 1.8 million cars to their roads, bringing the national total to well over 10 million. At recent growth rates, the number could very well double every three to four years. Should car ownership ever match that in the United States (135 million vehicles in 2002), there would be about 600 million cars on China's roads - more than all the cars in the world today. A statistical comparison between the two giants compiled by the World Resource Institute of the United Nations reveals even more staggering figures:

CHINA vs. UNITED STATES

AREA: 3,705,820 square miles vs. 3,717,796 square miles

POPULATION: 1,288,700,000 vs. 291,500,000

DENSITY per square mile: 348 vs. 78

ENERGY CONSUMPTION per person: 880 Kg/oil per year vs. 7,960 Kg/oil per year

MEAT CONSUMPTION per person: 104 lbs. per year vs. 269 lbs. per year

PAPER CONSUMPTION per person: 73 lbs. per year vs. 730 lbs. per year

AVERAGE NUMBER OF PERSON : 1.1 per room vs. 0.5 per room

WATER USE per person : 116,000 gals. per year vs. 484,500 gals. per year

TV SETS per 1,000 persons: 292 vs. 844

VEHICLES per 1000 persons: 16 vs. 774

Since its onset in 1949 the People's Republic has gone through a lot, including a famine where 20 million to 30 million people died in the early 1960s; a cultural revolution that went on into a decade; and a skyrocketing national suicide rate as well. Yet, never in the history of the world have so many people been lifted from poverty so rapidly. President Clinton, in one of his last speeches, said that 200 million people in China were lifted from absolute poverty from 1978 to about 1999. That's equivalent to about two-thirds of the entire population of the United States in twenty years. The economic achievements, therefore, are huge. But so are the problems. The factors of economic instability are many and worry the leadership. In fact, the leading elite justifies some of the repressive political measures precisely because of what they call "the factors of instability." These factors include a financial and banking system that is basically bankrupt, with bad loans out greater than the real net reserves of the entire banking system.

There are perhaps between 80 million to 100-plus million people that are moving from the countryside on a kind of temporary contract labor into the Chinese cities. And yet a large number of urban unemployed are getting put out of business from non-competitive state enterprises. As a result China has got urban unemployed, rural unemployed coming into the cities, unsound financial system, and general resentment against a regime that has, in the past, grotesquely mismanaged things. And then, of course, there is the widespread problem of corruption that permeates every facet of society.

Indeed, corruption is not a Chinese characteristic per se. It has, however, developed in a world where old, antiquated and inefficient laws are not being replaced fast enough to keep up with the speed of present times, and the vacuum has to be somehow filled. Experts think that on one hand the economic opening will bring more outside influences and in a way more chaos to the country which is not a bad thing in some ways. But, conversely, experts agree that the leadership will try to keep a tight control so that, at the end of the day, there may actually very well be more human rights violations than ever before.

There is also an imbalance of wealth between the thirty-five percent of the population that lives in the cities and the sixty-five percent inhabiting the countryside. There is a system of residence controls. If you are lucky enough to be born in a city - and registered as a city dweller - it is easier for you to get into university. You are in the city, you can work at all the large companies and government agencies in the city. If, conversely, you are registered as a rural person there are very severe restrictions on where you can live and work. And this is actually the biggest human rights problem in China today. You have a majority of this population of 1.3 billion that are, by law, second class citizens. Furthermore, there are the other matters of the more than 20 million people who have no social security net whatsoever to assist taking care of their basic needs, as well as the environmental concerns that the new era of industrialization is bringing up. Of the ten worst polluted cities in the whole world according to the World Environmental Agency, eight are in China. And, finally, the PRC accounts for 23 percent of the global population while supply of fresh water is less than 6 percent.

Yet, the social and economic improvements are huge as anyone who saw China in the '70's will confirm. Three decades ago there were no automobiles, no super markets, no highrise buildings. And there were no consumer goods to speak of. It was a Stalinist society, and a very poor Stalinist society at that. So the economic system has totally changed, and the private sector is now the dominant sector of the economy. It didn't exist at all as late as 1979. The political system has changed as well, albeit not nearly as drastically as the economic system. The China of the twenty-first century is a one-party state without a firm ideological foundation, more similar to Mexico under the PRI than Russia under Stalin. It is certainly difficult today to call China a Communist State, and the regime is no longer the party of workers and peasants. Mao Zedong would be unpleasantly surprised at how things got out of hand. But then, even this political transformation is nothing new to the Chinese. In fact, historically China has often gone through periods of consolidation followed by periods of weakening of the central authority. And the inequality of wealth is just a consequence of it all.

No issue is more pivotal and controversial in the U.S.-China relations than the question of Taiwan. On October 1, 1949 after nearly two decades of civil war, Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong declared victory over the U.S.-supported Nationalists (Kuomintang or KMT) led by Chiang Kai-shek. Mao proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and instituted a new communist system modeled after the U.S.S.R. After his defeat Chiang Kai-shek fled to the Chinese island of Taiwan, then called Formosa, along with two million Nationalist refugees. Taiwan is located about 100 miles off China's coast. There he established a "provisional" Nationalist capital in Taipei and declared martial law. The Nationalists claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all of China, and set up the same political bodies on Taiwan which had ruled on the mainland. Under Chiang's authoritarian leadership, the Nationalist government established a successful land reform program during the 1950's which helped transform the country from an agricultural to a commercial and industrial economic powerhouse.

It is difficult for Westerners to understand why the PRC is so adamant about reunification with Taiwan, until an example is brought up by the Chinese. "Think of California as an island off America's West Coast and inhabited by Americans but under a different regime. Wouldn't Washington want to seek reunification ?" The analogy made by Yang Jiechi, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, makes perfect sense. Taiwan is the PRC's unfinished civil war. They fought a civil war with this Nationalist government. They essentially won. The Nationalists escaped out to an island which the Chinese consider an integral part of China. And then, because of American support and other intervening factors, they never finished their civil war. In terms of the military, the PRC is also developing very rapidly. It is acquiring a modern aircraft and modern battleships. Its naval force and air force are developing so fast that China is now at the forefront of Asia's military innovations. Ambivalence exists both in the political relations of China and the U.S. with Taiwan as well as between China and the U.S. over Taiwan. China pursues a policy of "One Country - Two Systems" , a policy that is working well with Hong Kong and Macau after their return to the PRC. The United States pursues a strategy aptly called "Strategic Ambiguity": it recognizes Bejing as the only legitimate government while at all times investing in and supplying weaponry to Taiwan. And Taiwan's strategy is to court the United States while increasing its trade with the PRC, now amounting to over US $40 billion per year.

It is in this complex context of political and economic balances and counter-balances that the Eagle and the Dragon are eyeballing each others. A context certainly not for the faint of heart. And yet, in the geopolitical situation of Asia the United States and China make a very good team. Both are disdainful of absolutist chieftains the likes of North Korea's Kim Il Sung, both want peace and relaxation in the region, both are fervent in their plight against terrorism and both are eager to improve trade and cultural exchange with each others. The Chinese - founders of civilization are now meeting and talking to the Americans - spearheads of contemporary society. Two great countries, two great people.

Will the Eagle and the Dragon find a common ground for peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding?

Stay tuned.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Taiwan Women - Join Taiwan Dating Now

So you want to try and find the right woman for you, and your ideal girl happens to be a Taiwan Woman, and yet you can only do so by joining Taiwan social networking sites in order for you to start meeting different Taiwan women. Joining the Taiwan dating scene now is not as hard as you think it is. It is actually easier now, thanks to the internet.

As we all know it, the internet has been successful in bridging the gaps no matter where you are in this world. Let's say you are from the USA, talking to someone from Taiwan is not as hard as it was decades ago. With the help of the internet, you can chat with almost anyone from any part of this world. That's the beauty of being connected through the internet

Now, if you truly want to start finding the right girl for you, all you have to do is to start joining Taiwan friend finder, and start to meeting Taiwan women. It is actually similar to famous social networking web sites, only that most of the members there are Taiwan singles that are basically looking for new friends from around the globe. If you are afraid that the language barrier may hold you or the other person on the next end from getting to know each other well, worry no more. As learning the said language is also not that hard. Not to mention that you will also find lots of people there who are very willing to translate something for you, in case someone strikes a conversation in their native tongue.

You on the other hand, can start teaching them about your language. So make it a two way learning not just for you, but for them as well. Meeting new friends via the internet is not new. In fact, there are thousands and thousands of friendships and even marriages that started off online via a chat room. You may even have a friend or family member, who met their special, someone through the internet.

The success stories from dating web sites, is surprisingly high. People from the west are meeting people from the east, and are actually ending up in a good relationship

One of the best things in being able to meet another person from another part of the world is that, you can always come as you are. Meaning, you do not even have to dress up and prep up for your first meeting or chat. You can also do so at your most comfortable time and at home.

So if you truly want to find and meet Taiwan women, your best bet is to go online and find the best taiwan dating websites available today and join Taiwan dating online now!

Formosan Futuro Village

Travellers and photographers everywhere are constantly searching for that unique experience. That unique shot of that unique place that gets the respect and awes from friends and magazine editors. With the ever-expanding tourism industry, these places are becoming harder to find everyday, especially if you aren't friends with a local. Traveling to unfamiliar places, it is easy to carted around to the typical tourist sights and being charged handsomely for it. Getting to those untouched gems off the trail takes research and effort. Most of the time, its because of these two requirements these places remain so beautiful in the first place; and make it that much more rewarding for those who actually get there.

Taiwan being an undiscovered gem in East Asia it-self, it is full of these uncharted areas, making it a brilliant destination for those in search of a unique experience. This weekend I rediscovered one of these destinations in which I've labeled the 'Formosa's Futuro Village'. Below is its colorful story, I hope you enjoy it.

History

Architecture

The 1970's was an interesting time for the entire world. New fashion trends, music styles, and lifestyle perspectives were emerging like never before. People not only had ideals now, but the money to buy them as well. Trends were also emerging in the architecture design industry, attempting to satisfy the thirst of those in search of a unique home to match their new unique views on life. In an era where it was believed robots and machines will eventually cure all of humanities inconveniences, a Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed a new house he christened the 'Futuro'.

This new house was designed to eventually be the world wide standard of all houses, to enable worldwide travel and living for everyone. Built out of reinforced fiberglass, this 16-piece 'pod' or 'flying saucer' like shape house was designed for easy transport and to be sustainable in any environment. The basic idea was, you buy one house when you live on the beach in Hawaii, and when you want a change of pace and move to the Swiss alps to live in a skiing village, you simple fly your house over piece by piece to be reconstructed. All that was needed were four concrete pillars as the base, and the house could be placed on top of them, enabling it to be positioned almost anywhere.

Besides the unique transportable design of the house, the interior was also designed with ultimate convenience in mind. The living room had a series of reclining chairs, on which people could sit comfortably or even pull down n' out to make into sleepers for guests. These chairs were along the outer wall facing the center of the house where the kitchen and bar area were located. This would have made for a great conversational dinning and living room area all in one compact space. Along the backside of the house, the master bedroom and bath were kept tucked away with privacy and intimacy. An interesting environmental appeal to this house was that using the electric heating system, it could go from -20 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in only 30 minutes. Incredibly sustainable.

Sadly, there were less than 100 of these houses constructed worldwide, which is commonly blamed on the Exxon Mobile Crisis and the dramatic price increase of oil. The domino effect of the increase made the plastics for these homes more expensive to produce and naturally people began to loose interest. Matti Suuronen dream of a futuristic world with traveling flying saucer houses whizzing through the air under helicopters died hand in hand with his design in the 1980's.

Business Venture

Before the Futuro's fate ran its course however, one savvy Taiwanese businessman shared Matti Suuronen's dream and took action with it.

Mr. Su Ming was a Taiwanese businessman with a vibrant past in the military during his earlier years. One of his first ventures was a now popular brand of Sarsaparilla soda sold throughout Taiwan. In its beginning days, it wasn't very popular with the local's taste buds and got off to a slow start. However, with the American establishment of military bases in Taiwan as a post for the great East Asia, western tastes for both culture and foods began to develop in the country. Along with this, Mr. Su Mings' carbonated beverage sales exploded and he established a new factory, becoming a new rich member of high society.

With his new money, Mr. Su Ming was anxious to invest and decided to aim for an up scale market of Taiwanese citizenry shopping for vacation homes. He decided that water sports and beach living were the appeals he needed to create a beach side community for the high class Taiwanese. With this in mind, he picked out a beautiful beach front location along the North Eastern coast of Taiwan, made a property investment, and began to construct a futuristic housing community filled with Futuro design houses as well as Square shaped beach villas. His market was the super rich of Taiwan, as these beach villas were originally priced at around what today is equivalent to $94,000 US Dollars.

Informed by the local property manager, I was told that eventually investors lost interest and the project ran out of money. He explained that many of the investors could afford to go abroad to other exotic locations and private villas, leaving little desire for a simple vacation on home turf beach property.

Moreover, in an interview with a local dance instructor at the neighboring spa and hotel, I was informed that the weather conditions of the area were extreme year round; Summers being unbearably hot, and winters bringing intolerably strong winds and crashing cold waters to the beach. She explained how it was a less than ideal placement for vacation homes and that the neighborhood had been vacant for 20-30+ years.

The current day result is the ruins of a once futuristic beach side villa neighborhood, deserted and unsettling, giving us a small window into what was once a successful business mans dream.

Shooting Experience

Transport (travel)

Trying to catch the morning magic hour for the shoot, I headed out around 5:00 A.M. to catch the first bus over to the now abandoned beach resort. This was only possible because Taipei's transportation system is resilient, making life easy for those who choose to avoid the danger of driving scooters in the hectic traffic. Winding through the mountains and watching while the scenery changed from high rise apartments to jungle covered green hillsides and temples, I couldn't help but begin to appreciate how easy it was to get out of the mess in Taiwan. In only about an hour, I was already coastline. DSLR and tripod in hand, I got off the coach and spotted the first Futuro.

Feeling

The morning was overcast, as it usually is on the Taiwan coastlines, which brought a whole new feeling to the scenario. With rolling grey clouds, dispersed sunlight, and the Futuro house on approach, I felt like I was literally about to be abducted. The eerie weather and abandoned structures really worked well together, giving me a hair-raising sense that I should get in, shoot, and get out.

While wandering through the planned community lined streets, the color contrasts and random objects of the ruins presented an amazing window to into the past. All of the Futuro style homes were either a dull orange or faded light yellow color, indicating their age and rough past life. There were rust stains running down the sides of each home resembling bleeding scars caused by years and years of the harsh environment pounding down on them. The wind canopy's steel poles on each of the square homes front porch had been mangled by the intense winds, as if they were pipe cleaners bent by a child.

Overgrown, most of the homes had clearly been deserted for a long time. Remarkably however, there were still some in which had rusted padlocks on the doors, television sets inside, and appeared to still be inhabited. This gave me the sense I was in some sort of abandoned town horror film and continually checked the shadows to ensure there was nothing creeping behind me to put an axe in my back.

I did venture into a few of the homes that weren't barricaded with wooden pole and barbed wire locks for a better look. I found Japanese influenced tatami rooms, twin beds with sheets still on them, and even toothbrushes alongside a bottle of head and shoulders shampoo in one bathroom.

Kitchens with stoves, refrigerators, and air-conditioning units still hung on the wall all screamed at the modernity the entire project was aimed at back then. What I did find quite appealing, was that in front of the beachfront square villas, and underneath many of the Futuro designed homes, there were tables and seating along with barbeque pits and gardens. It resembled what I thought of as a camp ground, where families could get together and cook outside to enjoy nature and the company of their loved ones. An interesting contrast of feelings and mood for such a place.

Overall, the energy was a bizarre mix of extreme creepiness countered by that of an feeling that it actually could have been a very pleasant community to live in had it succeeded. The villas interior design along with the quaintness of the community could have been a very nice place for a camping vacation getaway right only a short drive from the capital.

Lessons & Enlightenment

The beach side villas established by Mr. Su Ming provide a unique and interesting view into the past of Taiwan and world trends in general. The place is a not-to-miss opportunity for any traveler or photographer coming to Taiwan searching for a one of a kind sight. Fortunately, it has so far been able to avoid the bulldozer, unlike its unlucky West coast brother Pod Houses in SanZhi, but its impossible to know when their day will finally be numbered.

Just a short time out of Taipei, it also is a nice reminder of how incredible of a travel destination Taiwan is. Being one of the undiscovered gems of the east, Taiwan's scenery and culture remains rich and unique, yet the modernity of the country makes it all very accessible. The undiscovered Futuro Village of Taiwan is an amazing travel experience and I would highly recommend it as a day trip for those who are interested in a place that is off the beaten path, has a unique and rich story, and is all in a very photogenic package.

Christopher Collins
President & Director
Mandarin Taiwan

http://www.MandarinTaiwan.com
E-mail: info.mandarintaiwan@gmail.com

Top Places to Visit in Taiwan

Taiwan was called Ilha Formosa which means Beautiful Island by the Portuguese when they landed there in 1544. Taiwan may be small in geographical size but there is a wide range of things to do and see while vacationing there. In this article you will discover some of the top places to visit in Taiwan.

Taipei: The Cosmopolitan Capital of Taiwan

Taiwan's capital, Taipei, is a "must stop" destination for all who travel there. Long ago, the "Taipei Basin" was inhabited by an Aboriginal tribe called the Ketagelan. Later, Taipei became an important port for the trading of tea under the occupation of the Han Chinese. Finally, the city became the island's capital.

No one can visit the Taiwan's capital without a visit to Taipei 101. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Taipei 101 is the world's tallest skyscraper. The building has a total of 106 floors, five being underground and 101 above ground. Thus, the name Taipei 101. Since Taiwan is located in an area that is subject to typhoons and earthquakes, the skyscraper was designed to withstand both of them.

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is another popular attraction in Taipei. It is also known as the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall although there has been controversy over the renaming. This great monument to China's former president Chiang Kai-Shek is located near the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness. The main structure has white walls with an octagonal roof of blue tiles that rises up to 70 meters above the ground. The Memorial Hall contains a library and museum. It is surrounded by a park where a beautiful pond is located..

Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan's largest lake with a surface area of nearly 8 km squared. It is the home of the Aboriginal tribe called the Thao. In the middle of the lake is an island that is considered to be sacred by the tribe. Because of this, the Aboriginal Cultural Village has been constructed near the lake. At the cultural village, visitors can learn about the history and development of the Thao tribe as well as enjoy the scenic beauty.

Taipei and Sun Moon Lake are just a couple of the wonderful tourist destinations that vacationers can find in Taiwan. Whether you visit the big city or head out to the countryside, you are sure to exclaim as the Portuguese did so many years ago that Taiwan is, in fact, the Beautiful Island.

Visit U.S. Passport Service Guide for information on how to get a Taiwan visa and to watch Taipei Taiwan vacation videos.

Is Taiwan's Safety Guaranteed by the USA?

Many in China wish to see the re-unification of Taiwan, and most in the upper echelon of power believe that Taiwan is rightfully part of China and should be a province of Mainland China. Some university researchers believe that Taiwan is safe for now because of her military deals with the United States and say; "Taiwan, can conduct such a life because her safety is guaranteed by the US."

To this point I would say that Taiwan's safety, just like China's safety is guaranteed by the world, just like the US's safety is guaranteed by the world. Same with South Korea, remember the Six Party Talks? Just like Japan is protected by allies, including the US and the World, as is the Philippines. China is an ally for now with the US and is safe from anyone else attacking her, of course China's military is plenty powerful enough to fight off nearly any force on Earth.

Indeed, I felt the Chinese military leader who stated that if the US interfered with the re-unification of Taiwan that China would use nuclear weapons was way out of line. It is almost as if the military leader assumed that the US wouldn't retaliate in kind, very unfortunate and completely out of Sun Tzu's style, very dangerous talk, but it's nice to know what he is thinking.

If topics like this interest you, then you should know that this short article came from conversations with the author of a new book; "China: Has the Last Opportunity Passed by!?" The author Guang Wu explains the future of China and incredible journey that' just beginning after 10,000 years.

Lance Winslow - http://www.aircraftwashguys.com/historicals.shtml. Lance Winslow thinks more people should call China and get to know the people there; phone provider.

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.

Global Online Marketing Profile 2011 Forecast - Taiwan

Market Opportunity:

Through decades of hard work and sound economic management, Taiwan has transformed itself from an underdeveloped, agricultural island to an economic power that is a leading producer of high-technology goods. Exports generate about 70% of Taiwan's GDP growth. In 2009, GDP was estimated to be $717.7 billion, and its PPP per capita to be $29,800. Unemployment rose to 5.9% in 2009, as compared to 4.1% in 2008, due to the global economic crisis. With the global economic downturn, Taiwan's real GDP following growth in 2007 and 2008 contracted 1.87% in 2009. The economy is beginning to recover in 2010, and the forecast anticipates GDP to grow by 4.72%.

Taiwan has focused much of its economic recovery effort on improving cross-Strait economic integration. Three financial memorandums in January 2010 opened the island to greater investments from Mainland's' financial firms and investors, providing new opportunities for Taiwan. Estimates of the labor force by occupation ranks service 58%, industry 36.8% and agriculture 5.1%. However, the country faces several challenges. Taiwan's birth rate is one of the lowest in the world, raising the prospect of future labor shortages, falling domestic demand, and declining tax revenues. In addition, its rapidly aging population and widening poverty gap are major long-term challenges that the country must face with new policies addressing these economic problems.

Taiwan faces many of the same economic issues as other developed economies and its future development will rely on further transformation to a high technology and service-oriented economy and carving out is niche in the global supply chain. Despite current crisis, the New Taiwan Dollar is still stable against the US dollar; this will limit imported inflation.

Best Industry Segments

In 2009, total imports to Taiwan were estimated to be $174.7 billion. Main commodities in imports are electronics, optical and precision instruments, information and communications products, machinery and electrical products, chemicals, basic metals, transport equipment, and crude oil. Taiwan's main import partners are Japan 20.7%, China 14%, US 10.3%, South Korea 6% and Saudi Arabia 4.8%. Taiwan is currently the tenth largest trading partner for the U.S according to the US International Trade Commission. Taiwan's two-way trade with the United States amounted to $41.7 billion in 2009. Total exports were estimated to by $203.7 billion in 2009. Major markets includes China 26.6%, Hong Kong 14.4%, US 11.6%, Japan 7.2% and Singapore 4.2%. Commodities include electronics, optical and precision instruments, information and communication products, textile products, basic metals, and plastic and rubber products.

Regulatory and Tariff Landscape

In addition to being a member of WTO since January 2002, Taiwan is also a member of the Asian Development Bank and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. These developments reflect Taiwan's economic importance and its desire to integrate itself into the global economy. Taiwan is a very open country, with very low customs duties. Presently, the average nominal tariff rate is 8.25% and the average effective rate is 3.25%.

Online Marketing Opportunity

According to internetworldstats.com, in 2009 Taiwan had an Internet penetration of 65.9%. From the 22.9 million people that live in Taiwan, 15.2 million are regular Internet users and 5 million are broadband users. More men (56%) than women (52%) use the Internet. For age groups, 95% of people between 15 and 24 years old use the Internet.

Online Language Preference

Taiwanese search engines use traditional Mandarin, which does not use simplified characters like in Mainland China. Online campaigns for one country will not directly translate to the other.

Search Engine Profile

Taiwan has a very strong cultural proclivity toward technology. As one of the top exporters of electronics, it constantly acquires and develops technology. Top search engines in Taiwan are yahoo.com.tw and yam.com. Other popular search engines include sina.com, formosa.com.tw, pchome.com and supersearch.com.tw.

Shannon Wu is a Global Market Research Analyst at Global Marketing Associates (GMA). GMA is an international business and marketing consulting firm that helps businesses to expand globally from preparation to implementation through global online management. For more information, contact Shannon or Brian Thomas, founder and principal of Global Marketing Associates, at information@globalemarketer.com, or visit our websites at http://www.globalmarketing1.com and http://www.globalemarketer.com

Taiwan Sports Recreation

In Taiwan sports recreation has become increasingly popular, hardly surprising when you consider that it was in 2001 that the two-day weekend was first introduced. Legislation decreased a five and a half day working week, down to five days. This saw more Taiwanese have spare time in which to pursue recreational activities.

There was a sudden growth in Taiwan sports recreation and group activities were and are especially popular. A large number of teams were created to compete against each other, often organised by schools, local companies and government offices. Basketball and softball in particular have become extremely popular, though soccer and baseball have only had limited take up so far. These last two team games are become a well followed sport at international level, although there is a relative lack of take up in playing at a national level.

Taiwan sports recreation has also seen a good take up or racquet and bat sports, with tennis, badminton, and table tennis being especially popular. Water has also played an important role in Taiwan sports recreation growth, and are the most popular sports activities. Swimming and diving in particular have proved to be popular in the sea and in swimming pools. Weekends see the seas and lakes of Taiwan packed as people relax by windsurfing, yachting, canoeing, fishing and paragliding.

Fishing is one of the biggest growing sports activities in Taiwan, although golf is taking over in popularity. World class golf courses are increasingly appearing across the island, and the best clubs have a long waiting list of those wishing to join. Taiwan has invested a lot of money in all of its recreational facilities; this is obvious in the overall quality of the golf courses and golf clubs.

Taiwan sports recreation is also taken up with more strenuous activities as hiking and mountain climbing. It appears that the Taiwanese in their leisure time like nothing more than hiking up the country's mountains. Taiwan is relatively famous for its hills and mountains and thousands leave the cities each weekend to take in the landscape and try trekking up the slopes.

Taiwan sports recreation is a growing pastime amongst the Taiwanese who find themselves with more spare time than they ever had before. As a result there has been a growth in the provision of equipment and supplies to feed the activities. This has seen the manufacturing of sports equipment become one of the growth areas within the Taiwanese economy.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about Taiwan sports recreation [http://myasiantravel.info/taiwan-sports-recreation] visit My Asian Travel [http://myasiantravel.info] for current articles and discussions.

Asian Import Products Give Contemporary Advantages

How many family appliances, kitchen accessories, silverware goods, textiles, fabrics, objects created of plastic material or other synthetic materials, toys or electronics can you count in your home with the Made in Taiwan label? Actually you will also observe them inside your school, your workplace, just about all over the place!

Certainly, we are residing in a global world in which seemingly all items are really some type of Taiwan import. Taiwan is actually among the biggest exporters of goods across the developed globe. The caliber of the items they create has improved significantly throughout the years. Although the rest of the globe may not know a lot about this country, one thing that we know is that if you're trying to buy something to sustain your present way of life, there's a great likelihood that it will probably be a Taiwan import.

Manufactured goods aren't the only goods which are delivered from Taiwan's borders. Food items such as produce and cooking spices may also be exported in significant volumes. In the end, it might be stated that Taiwan, as a country continues to be in a position to permeate each facet of our way of life.

One of many ways that this has been carried out, is by billing itself as an inexpensive manufacturing nation which has allowed international nations to reduce their labour costs and also the general unit price of all items created, consequently enhancing their ability to remain profitable in this competitive international marketplace. The local population of Taiwan also benefits from the manufacturing of international goods by offering jobs that might have otherwise not happen to be available.

The success of each Taiwan import stems from the relationships forged with distributors, retailers, wholesale export companies such as freight forwarders, packing warehouses, and supplies producers. Investing in these partnerships has confirmed to be important to its success in the global marketplace.

In addition, the very term "Taiwan import" has become synonymous with top quality. Due to using revolutionary technologies, the whole development process is a lot more efficient, the product sales process is much more revolutionary, and the shipping process is much more efficient. This means that Taiwan is in a position to create high quality goods at aggressive costs that satisfy the wants of the global economic system. Taiwan is really a worldwide competitor in the worldwide marketplace and a great deal could be discovered from their success.

Other nations that lack the capacity to compete with Taiwan have to discover the secrets of efficient resource management. Taking on these rules that Taiwan has developed over numerous years will allow other nations to overcome the hurdles which are restricting their exporting capacity and permit them to also grow to be international rivals within this worldwide marketplace.

In the event you're searching for lots more important info in regard to Taiwan Import or you've always wondered about the particulars of creating an exporting and importing home business then go to www.importexporthomestudy.com and enjoy your own 100 percent free ground-breaking report.

Taiwan Shall be Independent and Sovereign - An Economic Point of View

In 1949, on losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party of China, the Kuomintang ruling clique, led by Chiang Kai-shek, retreated from Mainland China and moved the ROC government to Taipei, Taiwan's largest city, and at the same time, he was continuing to claim sovereignty over all of China and Greater Mongolia. On the mainland, the victorious Communists established the People's Republic of China, claiming to be the sold representative of China including Taiwan and portraying the ROC government on Taiwan as an illegitimate entity. This is the story of confrontation between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China over Taiwan's sovereignty.

Until this very modern time, the confrontation over sovereignty between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan is still one of the hottest in the international news. Shall Taiwan be sovereign? By siding with "economic" point of view, the author of this article does support Taiwan's sovereignty.

For the past 50 years, Taiwan has shockingly grown from a poor country in the region into one of the most prosperous societies in the world. In 1952, Taiwan's per capita GDP was a mere $1,096. In 2005, Taiwan was the world's 19th-largest economy and 16th-largest trading nation. As of July 2006 it had the fourth-largest foreign exchange reserves in the world. And by the year 2006, Taiwan's per capita GDP had swelled to $16,000 and all foreign trade topped $427 billion and all foreign reserve exchanges accumulated to be $266 billion.

Authoritative annual surveys of the world's economies-including those conducted by the World Economic Forum, Business Environment Risk Intelligence, International Institute for Management Development and Economist Intelligence Unit-have consistently ranked Taiwan among the world's top nations with respect to potential for long-term economic growth and technological development. As of the end of the second quarter of 2006, Taiwan led in production of large-sized LCD panels, with its global share of unit shipments exceeding 45 percent.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report 2005 - 2006 :" With no significant natural resources, [Taiwan] has built its competitive advantage on its human capital, creating a model which other countries would do well to follow... ...Taiwan demonstrates the advantages that long-term strategic vision combined with adaptive management can confer."

According to the Index of Economic Freedom [2007 assessment]: "Taiwan's economy is 71.1 percent free, which makes it the world's 26th freest economy and it is ranked 6th out of 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and its overall score is much higher than the regional average.

Taiwanhas high levels of investment freedom, trade freedom, property rights, fiscal freedom, freedom from corruption, and freedom from government. The average tariff rate, inflation rate, and level of corruption are all low. Although Taiwan's personal income tax is high, the corporate tax rate is moderate, and overall tax revenue is low as a percentage of GDP. Government spending is similarly low. Taiwan's investment climate is healthy, and 100 percent foreign ownership is permitted in most sectors. Property rights are protected by the judiciary, although there are minor problems with case delays and corruption associated with organized crime.

These are just some of the positive economic indications of Taiwan, in other areas; human and civil rights, legal and political system, and other political state of affairs; Taiwan is too good to be under the supervision of political and economic framework of mainland China, which is a Maoist-communist country, bearing a huge gap between the rich and the poor, high-profile corruption, and mammoth record of human rights abuses, a well as other highly negative international reputations.

To be short and precise, I do totally support Taiwan's sovereignty, so that this country can strive to the fullest as it deserves.

Vicheka Lay is the Assistant Managing Director of Cambodian War Amputees Rehabilitation Society [a Canadian NGO registered in the Province of Alberta, Canada], and a freelance translator for a company in Indonesia. Also, he is currently an LL.M candidate, with specialization in International Law. Vicheka Lay is also an "expert blogger" for the Center for International Governance Innovation, based in Ontario, Canada.

Questions on Cambodian laws, business, politics, and state of affairs? Email me: vichekalay@yahoo.com

Vietnam - The New Taiwan? How Vietnam is Making Her Voice Heard in the Global Furnishings Market

"Made in Taiwan" had special meaning when I was a kid (too long ago to count on one's digital appendages). It was a phrase generally disdained as implying, both poor quality and disloyalty. As labor costs in the U.S. rose throughout the last century, reliance on foreign goods, particularly clothing, furniture, and household items, seriously impacted American manufacturers, putting many factory workers out of a job. "Buying American" was considered the patriotic thing to do, and the smart thing to do, as foreign-made products were considered to be of lesser quality.

Over time, however, as Asian manufacturers matured, the quality argument no longer held up, and the Law of Supply and Demand won out. Without externally imposed tariffs, lower costs mean lower prices, and that will always woo consumers, and so, imported Asian goods became staples of the American shopper's diet. This was nowhere more true than in the home furnishings industry, where buyers could save a bundle by going with imports.

Something else happens over time, however, as manufacturing thrives in a country. Japan, Taiwan, and China have all seen their labor, equipment, and property costs rise as the fruits of their laborers gradually transformed poverty-stricken rural communities into busy commerce centers. "Cheap labor" never stays that way for long, and for that reason, new sources of lower-wage employees must be sought.

Today's up-and-coming manufacturing center, at least for wood furniture, has turned to Vietnam. Since 2001, Vietnam's share of the U.S. furniture market has risen from a negligible 0.1% to a strong second behind 1st-place China, and is now at 8.3%. China is still far and away the market leader here, providing almost 64% of our imported furniture, a number that has steadily risen, and almost doubled from the 37% seen in 2001. There is no reason to doubt China's continued dominance in this market, however, Vietnam already has double the share of the next biggest competitor, Malaysia, and towers over once-powerful Taiwan, which has fallen to one-third of its turn-of-the-century share, with only 2.4% in 2008.

Can Vietnam continue her rise to the top? That will depend on her response to a number of challenges currently faced. Besides cheap labor, Vietnam is not particularly well-endowed in some of the other inputs of furniture manufacture. Vietnam does not presently have a strong domestic timber industry, and imports 70-80% of the raw materials used. She also lacks the chemicals needed to treat wood products bound for the home furnishings market, and the textiles used for seat cushions and coverings are not readily available there.

Despite these obstacles, however, Vietnam benefits from the high U.S. tariff on Chinese wood product imports, and from a reputation for quality craftsmanship and unique design details. To further her cause, Vietnam has begun embracing her role as a future furniture super-power by playing host to the annual furniture expo in Ho Chi Minh City, the HCMC International Furniture and Handicraft Fair and Exhibition.

Clearly, Vietnam has plans for becoming the new "Made in..." here in the U.S., its primary foreign market. And if Americans continue to "Buy Vietnamese" at the rate we have been, rewarding her with an almost exponential rise in sales, she just might make it.

How to Get Language Exchange Partners

Single? Or plainly looking for new friends online? Whatever your reason is for using the internet and visiting famous social networking websites, you too can start meeting new people online and even start Taiwan language exchange with a native from Taiwan or Taiwanese from around the world. Whether you simply want to meet new friends, or you are in search of Taiwan singles, then the net is the best tool that you can use.

Yes, meeting new people and learning their language in exchange of good company through the internet is something that most people are fond of doing today. It is not a rare scenario that singles from two different side of the world ended up being together. Now, if you truly want to hook up and make friends with a Taiwanese male or female, then you are lucky. Because of the recent addition to famous networking websites, that goal of yours is easily achievable. Not only will you get to meet Taiwanese people straight from Taiwan or from any part of this world, you can also learn their language through your new found friend/s.

Now, we all know that communication is important in building up good relationships. If your lack of knowledge in speaking Taiwanese is hindering you from meeting great people from Taiwan, then now is the time that you must start with your Taiwan language exchange with the help of the internet.

You will be surprised at how easy it is to finally good, friendly and accommodating Taiwanese to help you with your language learning process. You will find yourself learning not just the language but also their culture. So when it is time for you to actually go to Taiwan and start meeting the friends you made online, you will be ready and well-equipped and will truly enjoy your stay there.

Now, if you think that you have all the time in the world and are sincere in finding the right mate for you, and you think that Taiwan singles are the only ones for you, then why not start meeting them online now? Why let the time pass you by? Learn how to communicate with them and be able to win them over with your new found language.

Do not let the language barrier stop you from meeting your dream girl or boy. You can always go and meet people online who are very willing to help you learn the language and in turn, you too can help them learn your language. Taiwan language exchange is not only achievable but also easy to learn, this is with the help of your new found online friends. Meet hundreds of Taiwan singles wherever you are in this world.

Find The Right Taiwan language exchange for you by Joining Taiwan Dating Sites Now!

Finding the Best Hospitals in Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei is the exciting capital of Taiwan. It is the economic, tourist and cultural center of the island. Taipei is endowed with many good hospitals. Some of the major hospitals here have established separate centers for foreigners. This is a brief note on some of the leading hospitals in Taipei.

Taipei Veterans General Hospital, established in 1958, is a trusted hospital in Taiwan and is situated at No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Beitou District, Taipei. This hospital is a pioneer institute in medical education, research and medical care services with all latest technologies in diagnostic sector. Regarded as the teaching hospital for the National Defense Medical Center under the Ministry of National Defense, it has bilateral ties with foreign universities and organizations like Berlin University and also the Center for Rehabilitation of the Austrian Labor Committee.

Mackay Memorial Hospital is a famous private Christian hospital with all modern medical facilities and highly qualified medical professionals, founded in 1912. This world class hospital is located at 92 Zhongshan North Road, Section 2, Taipei and is considered as a flagship hospital of Taiwanese native peoples. This 1200-bed hospital offers treatment and assistance in all major medical specialties. Tel. +886 2 2543-3535

Taipei Medical University Hospital (TPUH) is a famous modern hospital with 500 beds and all of the most advanced medical facilities for treatment at global standards. This ISO-9002 certified hospital, founded in 1976, is also considered a pioneer center in clinical research and medical education. TPUH was recognized as the Class I Teaching Hospital and Health Executive Center by the Department of Health of Taiwan. The International Patient Center at TMUH is formulated exclusively for international patients and is conveniently located at 252, Wu Hsing Street, Taipei. Phone: +886-2-2737-2181

National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) founded in 1895 has perhaps been the most trusted and renowned medical center in Taiwan. This hospital, located at No.7, Chung Shan S. Rd., Taipei, employs more than 4000 dedicated and highly qualified medical personnel to offer most modern medical services and treatment of international standards in all the departments. NTUH is especially famous for their centers for liver diseases and Heart Transplant Division. Tel: 886-2-2312-3456 The Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) is another highly reputed hospital in the city and this large health center is situated at No.325, Sec.2, Chenggong Rd., Neihu District, Taipei City 114. This hospital is equipped with latest medical instruments and technology combined with excellent services of master medical professionals.

Taiwan Adventist Hospital is another well-known hospital in the city and is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a part of their worldwide mission system. The hospital working under government's sponsorship employs 900 medical staff and offers cost effective treatment to more than 1,400 outpatients daily and emergency services to over 2,000 people monthly. English speaking staffs are available in this 379-bedded world-class hospital, which is placed at No.424, Sec. 2, Bade Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City10556, Taiwan. TEL: 886-2-27718151

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) is another top rated hospital in the city, which offers world-class treatments and services of brilliant doctors and allied staffs cost effectively. The hospital was founded in 1976 and has been a major center of medical services, teaching and research. Their International Service Center (ISC) attracts a large number of foreigners and is located at Duenhua North Road, Taipei. Tel: 886-2-27135211

Taipei Tzu Chi General Hospital is another well-known hospital in Taipei and is situated at No.289, Jianguo Rd., Sindian City, Taipei. Tzu Chi Foundation, the leading community service group of Taiwan operates this trusted health institute and offers clinical treatment and services at reasonable prices in a warm and caring environment. The hospital established in 2005 is especially famous for the micro-invasive operations formulated to minimize patients' suffering. Phone: 02-66289779

Before you travel or move abroad, make sure that you and your family have quality medical insurance. Let Good Neighbor Insurance help you find the right international travel insurance for your situation.

Go East Young Man-Made In Taiwan And The China Syndrome Part 1

The US Markets are closed today so I thought this might be an opportunity to look beyond the US shores to another favourite market of mine-the Far East. For many years the Asian Markets have lagged far behind the US and Europe. I think we may be seeing the tentative shoots of recovery in certain markets. Japan is still a wildcard but I believe that 2007 may prove to be a good year for Taiwan. In 2006 a number of emerging markets including some in Asia have hit all time highs but Taiwan still lags behind and is over 43% below its high from February 1990.

Taiwan is home to some of the largest Tech and Electronics companies in the World. Companies that produce I-Pods and the Mini Mac as well as supply major IT companies such as Dell and Hewlett Packard, the link therefore to PC and Semi-conductors is inextricable, when these markets boom so does the Taiwanese economy. If you believe that these sectors are likely to start to move in 2007(think Vista and PC's) then Taiwan is a good place to invest. For me the best way to play this is via the iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund(EWT-NYSE). This fund is broadly based and diversified but heavily weighted to Technology Companies. Another boost for Taiwan is that it is one of the major trading partners of China.

The Chinese economy is still one of the fastest growing economies in the world and as the mass Chinese become more affluent then they will increase their expenditure on goods such as PC's and Technology, this can only be good for the Taiwanese economy and for the iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund(EWT-NYSE). I will be opening a position in this fund at the mkt tomorrow. I will also post Part 2 of this communication looking in a bit more detail at opportunities to gain some exposure to China such as Hong Kong Shanghai Bank (HBC), Templeton Dragon Fund (TDF-NYSE) and China Medical Technologies (CMED-NYSE).

Alan Gillies trades his own Pension fund, he is experienced in Trading Stocks, Futures, Options and Forex to read his blog on his trading tips and ideas go to www.retirementtrader.blogspot.com.

ESL Jobs in Taiwan - What Teaching English in Taiwan is Really Like

If you are considering a move to Taiwan to teach English, then the good news is that there are a lot of schools and positions that are available all year round. This makes finding work as an ESL teacher in Taiwan fairly easy, but it isn't until you look a little closer do things not look so simple. Teaching English in Taiwan is a great way to explore Taiwan and earn a living at the same time, but what kind of classes or students will you teach? Japan, Korea and China have a wide number of private schools, colleges and universities that hire teachers, so getting working teaching adults, teenagers or children is easy to do. This isn't the case for Taiwan where there is one primary employer of foreign teachers, private schools. The main employers in the ESL industry in Taiwan are cram schools or more specifically cram schools for children.

The bulk of the learning English market in Taiwan consists of children aged 6 - 12 years of age. Most other Asian countries have students of all ages wanting to learn English, but this isn't true for Taiwan. Because the market in Taiwan is made up primarily of children, this means that most places advertising for teachers are cram schools that have classes for children. Parents are obsessed with trying to give their children an edge and one perceived way of doing this is by sending them to English classes. Most children finish their day at public school around 3 or 4pm and then find their way to some kind of classes in the evening, of which one kind is English class. If you are looking online or on any job boards for work in Taiwan, you will notice that 99% of the positions advertised are for teaching children in cram schools.

So what is work in a cram school like? If teaching children isn't your thing, then you would be best to strongly avoid teaching English in Taiwan. Most classes have anywhere from 10 to 30 students, with the majority of classes consisting of around 20 or so children. Classes run for usually two hours and cover fairly basic English usage. Most cram schools will want you to be lively and enthusiastic to keep the children entertained. A key point here is that cram schools are more interested in keeping children happy than helping them improve their English. Since cram schools are a business, their primary focus is on making money. You don't have to be extremely educated or talented to teach in a cram school, just make sure the children love you and you'll most likely never be without a job.

Teaching in a cram school might not be everyone's idea of fun, but that truth is most ESL jobs in Taiwan are in the children's market. If you enjoy children or would like a change, then teaching children could be right for you. Many people believe that teaching English to children offers more job satisfaction than anything else in the world. The same might be true for you also.

Want to discover more about Taiwan teaching jobs? Visit the ESL jobs in Taiwan website today and find out what life and teaching is really like in Taiwan.

Differences Between Mainland and Taiwan Chinese

The Chinese language is probably the most famous language which uses characters instead of letters. However contrary to popular belief Chinese is not just one language but there are many different dialects. In Hong Kong for instance people speak Cantonese which is so different that someone from Beijing would not understand it. Also there are two different sets of Chinese characters. The original traditional characters and the simplified characters. The simplified characters were introduced to promote literacy by decreasing the number of strokes required for some characters. Not all characters were simplified however, like some characters which are already very simple (2 or 3 strokes). Traditional characters are still used in Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong. In Mainland China and Singapore simplified characters are used.

Someone who wants to learn Chinese is normally best advised to learn Standard Mandarin and simplified characters which are used in Beijing (Peking) for instance. However if you also want to do business or stay in Taiwan for instance you should also learn traditional characters. Traditional characters are considered to be the "more beautiful" characters, even by some mainlanders. Since simplified characters are relatively new, it means that many historic texts can not be read by the new generation.

Also if learning Chinese the questions is which romanization system should be used. Hanyu Pinyin (or short Pinyin) is the most common system. This system uses the Latin alphabet to represent sounds in Chinese. In Taiwan a different system is used called Zhuyin. Zhuyin does not use the Latin alphabet like Pinyin and is therefore more difficult to learn for Westerners. Zhuyin is also known as Bopomofo.

China is emerging as a major economic power. For that reason it is becoming more popular to learn. Some schools in Europe have changed their curriculum and Chinese competes now with French, Spanish and German.

Oliver Antosch is the owner of Chinese-Course.com and many other websites.

Restrooms in Taiwan - What to Expect

Taiwanese Bathrooms

Taiwan is a developed nation and Taipei a very modern, developed and adapted city. This being true, there are still some things from the past that have hung on culturally. The restroom and habits of using it are no exception to this. This article will guide you through the restroom process in Taiwan and, about what to expect so you don't have any unpleasant surprises!

One of your first big surprises when in Taiwan will surely come when you are in a rush and step into the bathroom only to see a hole in the ground. Congratulations, you have just had your first encounter with the Squatty potty. The squatty potty is a normal acquaintance for most Taiwanese, however may take some getting used to for others. When you run into your first one, don't freak out, just try and do your best.

You will mainly run into this type of receptacle when you are outside of the main city, in smaller unknown areas, or small restaurants. Use you best judgment and don't get thrown off. If you are eating in a back alley night market restaurant and run into a squatty potty, you should be expecting it. On the other hand, well established restaurants, buildings, and other places usually have western type facilities provided. In fact most restrooms and buildings in Taipei are now equipped with western style toilets in both men and women restrooms. Typically, when walking into most buildings you will find a combination of both squatty potty's and western style toilets available.

The Squatty Potty Culture.

There is still reminiscing of an old cultural belief that sitting on a toilet was unsanitary and appalling. This is surprising to many in a sharp contrast that many westerners think of the squat style toilet as a more primitive and unsanitary system. Just one of the interesting cultural treasures you are sure to uncover while here in Taiwan! Although this type of method and custom is still very prominent in the country, many Taiwanese have now become accustomed to using western style toilets and they can be found in most places.

Another interesting cultural characteristic in Taiwan is the bathroom cleaners. We are grateful to have them here, as the public toilets do tend to maintain a certain standard of cleanliness, however sometimes this comes at the cost of a slight surprise. Gentlemen, if when using the restroom and a woman walks in behind you, don't be alarmed, chances are it's just the cleaning lady. That's right, there is no sex discrimination when it comes to public restroom cleanliness here! Many of the public toilet cleaners are women and they do not hesitate to finish their job if the facilities are in use. Just carry along with your business and try not to smile and laugh to hard, this is a normal thing for you now!

Toilet Paper

No matter what kind of toilet system you run into, there is one thing you need to be sure you are absolutely aware of. Taipei is an old city and the sanitary systems used are still quite outdated. Because of this, it is most common to NOT FLUSH YOUR TOILET PAPER. There is wastebasket provided next to every toilet and its not there for show. If you use toilet paper, put in into the wastebasket and NOT INTO THE TOILET. The paper WILL clog the toilet and drainage and cause huge problems for everyone. Just simple fold your used toilet paper and discard it in the basket. Your cooperation will be appreciated by all!

Helpful Hints

Carry around a small package of tissue for emergencies. It is not uncommon to run into a poorly maintained restroom if you are outside of the downtown area, and even more common if you are traveling outside of the capital Taipei.

Sometimes Restrooms may charge you a fee for usage, or charge for toilet paper. If this is the case, there is usually a wall-mounted vending machine that you can purchase is from. Something to think about before rushing in and getting stuck in a smelly situation (literally). Don't forget, ALWAYS CHECK THE TOILET PAPER BEFORE USE!!!!

Check for hooks. Sometimes stalls have them, sometimes they don't. If you have valuables with you that you don't want to put on the floor, check for a hook on the back of the stall door or wall. If its not there, it may have fallen off. Head to the next stall and hope for better luck!

Hand sanitizer and/or Hand Soap. In addition to poor maintenance and lack of toilet paper in bathrooms, sometimes the soap dispensers get over looked. It's a good idea to have a small portable bottle of hand sanitizer or soap with you just in case. This can be a great way to kill off germs from just being in the city all day too!

This article was written by Christopher Collins, Program Director of Mandarin Taiwan Study Abroad. For more information, visit http://www.MandarinTaiwan.com.

Plastic Injection Molding In Taiwan

Plastic injection molding in Taiwan is at a high level of expertise in comparison with other Asian countries. Taiwan also has much better working conditions, environmental regulations and worker relations than most it's neighbors.

Government policies that have enabled the plastics industry to develop in a free-market manner. This has enabled the plastic injection molding industry to develop to a high technical level. The open market nature has given fair competition the ability to bring in high end jobs and industries.

What are some advantages of Taiwan over mainland China?

Decades of industrial growth and stability without destroying the environment




Safe and healthy working conditions for the employees. Taiwan has a long history or good human rights relations which reflects in it's labor laws.




For the environment. Industry has cooperated with the government to keep the island clean and relatively unpolluted




Costs are generally one-third less than those of the USA. This means you can receive high quality at reduced prices.




Thermoplastic injection molds, thermosetting molds, and custom molds of all types have developed to a high level of expertise.




No history of human rights abuse








What are some industries Taiwan specializes in?

Taiwan has an excellent relationship with the US, Europe and Japan because of it's political and economic system. This has enabled the island country to attract leading aerospace, automotive, electronics, computer, and small appliance companies.

How can you find a reliable plastic injection molding company in Taiwan? A good place to begin your search is here One of the top companies in Taiwan for thermoset molding is Longzu Plastic Molding Company They have been in business for over 40 years, which is a lifetime in plastics.

Randy Hough
Plastic Injection Mold Maker
http://www.global-plastic-injection-molding.com

"You know Dad, I've been thinkin', one is a lot more than zero!" my son, Thomas, age 5.

Round-Island Railway Tourism in Taiwan