if your ex uni classmates benefited from the inflow of the Chinese Yuan, i bet they will not want to be separated from china. The lure of money can change a person perception of life.
I went Taiwan in November, I saw busload upon busload of Chinese peasant tourists going to visit the chiang's memorial and other tourist attractions at Taipei. Don't know to laugh or to cry when overheard those aunties comments on the changing of guard in front of chiang. it certainty very different since I last been to Taipei when only a few foreign tourists will visit chiang memorial. talked to a Taiwanese volunteer who help out at the memorial, can sense she don't like the mainlanders, was a bit cold toward me until I stated I from littlereddot. talk a bit on the up coming election, she seems to form the majority of the ppl I spoke to, give up on the current bunch of politicians from both side as all promise a lot but cannot deliver. Don't believe too much on the polls, the dishearted voters form the biggest block. the results may not be a straight forward victory for Tsai. While Taiwanese value their freedom but they speak highly of pap govt. As if they prefer authoritative govt that can deliver prosperity over democratic govt. Most of them surprise when I give negative view of the pappies.
income over there had stagnated too long, only the low cost of living buffer common ppl from hardship. too many ppl depend on the tourist dollars as a mean of income. food really cheap over there, a simple meal no more than NT40. at exchange rate of S$1-NT22, that less than S$2.
