Friedman said although Taiwan experiences many natural disasters, it still manages to accumulate significant foreign capital reserves because it makes good use of the most important renewable resource--brainpower. “Drilling for brainpower, not for oil” develops creativity, knowledge, talent and entrepreneurship, he said.
Taiwan holds a commanding position in the “green revolution,” Friedman said. The island has to use its people, the most important renewable resource in the world, to create more green energy, he said, adding that this is what the “green revolution” really is about.
Meeting with Friedman, President Ma Ying-jeou said the famous author's new book “Hot, Flat and Crowded” describes Taiwan’s situation perfectly, noting that the rising temperatures and intensifying torrential rains have created a very frightening situation. To cope with these climate changes, Taiwan must participate in the world campaign against global warming.
“The government has set a goal of cutting down carbon dioxide emissions to 2005 levels by 2020,” Ma told Friedman.
Separately in a meeting with Premier Wu Den-yi, Friedman said when he visited Taiwan 13 years ago, the island was one of the world’s flashpoints, but now things are entirely different. Current cross-strait relations are the result of a “quiet revolution” from interactions between the people on both sides, he said. As the cross-strait tension has eased, he added, the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize should not have gone to U.S. President Barack Obama, instead it should have gone to the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
The developments in cross-strait relations are “a very good lesson” for many nations, Friedman said, achieved as they were without shuttle diplomacy or intervention by Washington. Complementary economic measures have created a basis for longer-lasting peace, he said.
In response, Wu said the two sides need to set long-term goals and patiently accumulate friendship and trust to pave the way for a breakthrough in bilateral political ties.
“At present, mainland China looks forward to an early start to political talks as their leaders hope to leave a political legacy before their five-year tenure expires,” Wu said.
“However, the time is not yet ripe for cross-strait talks on any sensitive political issues as the people of Taiwan still remain divided on those issues,” Wu said.
“As far as we are concerned, Taiwan should employ a more cautious attitude toward cross-strait developments in future,” the premier added. (CYH-THN)