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Lin Yi-shih a product
of dark side of ‘guanxi’
By Hsu Yu-fang 許又方
Former Cabinet secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世) reportedly admitted to
accepting NT$63 million (US$2.11 million) in bribes from Ti Yung Co, a
metal-recycling company. This was news that shocked the political world.
However, for the average person, such scandals are not all that surprising and
are almost something to be expected because they are but a reflection of the
darker side of Taiwan’s political and economic culture.
There is a popular Chinese saying that, “If you have guanxi (關係, connections)
you will be okay, but if you don’t, then you have problems.” Having guanxi and
using it to your advantage to get around normal avenues for doing things is part
of everyday life in Chinese societies around the world — and Taiwan is no
exception.
I live in Hualien and often have to book a train ticket to Taipei and back. Each
time I need a ticket, I have to get up early to book tickets online the morning
of the trip and even this does not work every time. However, there are always
quite a few people that always manage to get a ticket anytime they want by
making one simple phone call. When people are employing such methods to obtain a
train ticket, is it any wonder they do the same thing when it comes to
industries involving tens of billions of New Taiwan dollars?
To put it simply, when there is something to be gained, people will use their
guanxi to get it. Supply and demand are what make guanxi possible. Those in
business are fond of money and politicians have power. Taiwan’s guanxi culture
is created when these two spheres mix and interests and benefits are exchanged.
Therefore, nobody was really surprised when Lin was accused of corruption, and
they most probably think that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes
to corruption involving government officials and businesses.
It is a well-known fact that elections are hugely expensive affairs. It is often
said that it takes millions to get elected to a city or county council and tens
of millions to get elected to the legislature. Stories of people who spend
hundreds of billions on elections also abound. If that is what it takes to get
elected, then who on earth can afford it, unless they are backed by massive
family wealth? As a result, politicians often look to wealthy businesspeople for
support. After they get elected, they are naturally happy to speak up for their
business interests. Alternatively, they can use the power vested in them as
public representatives to apply pressure or solicit bribes to cover their
election costs.
Lin was elected as a legislator four times and after losing in the Kaohsiung
County commissioner elections in 2005 and in the legislative elections this
year, one can imagine he must have needed quite a bit of funding.
The whole Lin incident can be explained as a product of a culture that has
developed for a long time between political and business circles, and it is
therefore unsurprising. However, this is also what makes it scary and dangerous.
Taiwan has often been criticized as being one of the world’s ugliest and
dirtiest nations — a key reason being Taiwanese are used to how things are and
the government ignores things like illegally parked cars and hawker stands set
up where they are not allowed to. If everyone is used to these connections
between government and business, then this country is well beyond help. Given
its domestic situation, how can Taiwan even begin to talk about boosting its
international competitiveness or about catching up with Singapore or South
Korea?
Hsu Yu-fang is an associate professor and chairman of Sinophone literature at
National Dong Hwa University.
Translated by Drew Cameron
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