Wen-Pin Lin | Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages (original) (raw)

Papers by Wen-Pin Lin

Taiwan and Southeast Asia Soft Power and Hard Truths Facing China's Ascendancy, 2023

Cambodia has reiterated both its adherence to the One China policy and the ironclad brotherhood i... more Cambodia has reiterated both its adherence to the One China policy and the ironclad brotherhood it has with China, though Cambodia’s garment industry, which is inextricably linked to Taiwan, has contributed significantly to its economic development and increased the income of Cambodians by generating employment since the 1990s. Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP), launched in 2016, aimed to (re)build close economic and people-to-people relations with the Southeast Asian countries through soft power. Of all the NSP countries, Cambodia has been the hardest to win over. As the Taiwan government is aware of Cambodia’s alliance with China, it excluded the kingdom from its list of NSP priority countries from the beginning. Therefore, besides some Taiwan Banks setting up more branches after 2016 for the profitable carry trade, it is unsurprising that the NSP has achieved only the bare political and economic minimum in Cambodia. But Taiwan-based Garment makers and Banks indeed brought capital, technology, and expertise to Cambodia. They nurtured local talents and helped Cambodia with a new middle class emerging by job-generating and income-raising. Further, some Taiwan NGOs are dedicated to assisting Cambodia by conducting several projects of charity, education, poverty eradication, and empowerment in Cambodia. In so doing and operating with next to no official support, the Taiwan-based NGOs earned the gratitude and respect of the local governments and villagers so that they could work around Cambodia’s One China policy. They are faithful adherents to the principle of soft power, as they believe that establishing genuine people-to-people relations will yield positive changes.

Translocal Chinese: East Asian Perspective, 2020

Although anti-Chinese riots are rare in Cambodia, the ethnic Chinese in Cambodia during the Khmer... more Although anti-Chinese riots are rare in Cambodia, the ethnic Chinese in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era experienced some of the most severe repression in the world. The situation had improved by the 1990s, following the Hun Sen government's abolishment of discriminatory policies towards them. The positive opinion of the Cambodian-Chinese was given another boost when Chinese capital flooded into the country. Keeping a low profile in politics and contributing to the national economy through their businesses have been the ways in which the ethnic Chinese survived in Cambodia. This does not mean that they have had no interest in politics; rather, they have preferred to engage with it through patron-client relationships with ruling politicians through their businesses. However, as the main stakeholders of the Cambodian political economy and the main pipeline through which Chinese capital flows, the Cambodian-Chinese would be in the firing line should Chinese investment not work out in the long-term.

Southeast Asia: Statecraft in Motion, Taiwan: Wenzao Ursuline University Press, 2021

This article presents the impact of foreign capital on Cambodia since 2000. I argue that the stat... more This article presents the impact of foreign capital on Cambodia since 2000. I argue that the state has been able to steer foreign capital for the sake of the country in spite of the nation’s reliance on it. Cambodia has been able to do so by directing the inflows from the foreign investors and donors on which it is dependent. The author showcases how the system of electoral authoritarianism in the kingdom plays up its weak capacity, aid dependency and extreme pro-market policy to attract foreign investment and manipulate the inconsistency between rival donors’ interests so as to receive more ODA. This article finally conclude with theoretical perspectives that may go some way into explaining the future possible consequences of Cambodia’s actions towards FDI and ODA.

Chinese Political Science Review, Jun 2013

Japan is a country lacking indigenous natural resources, especially fossil fuels resources that a... more Japan is a country lacking indigenous natural resources, especially fossil fuels resources that are needed in the maintenance of infrastructure and rising economic activities. Japan therefore imported over 80% of its primary energy every year since WWII. The government and proponents of nuclear power claimed the advantages of nuclear power included stable power supplies, lower power cost, and no CO2 produced in power generation, As such, Japan sought energy autarky by developing nuclear power enthusiastically and became a country with 10 nuclear power plants with 54 nuclear reactors. However, the eastern Japan earthquake damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant in March 11 2011, which resulted in the second level 7 accident of the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale in history. The proponents of anti-nuclear power camps challenged the claimed benefits of nuclear power by government and nuclear power adherents. Based on the theory of national security, this article analyses the debates between pro-nuclear power and anti-nuclear power: while the former claims nuclear power is a “holy trinity” of energy security, economic efficiency and environment protection, the latter treats nuclear power as a “unholy trinity.” No Ausstieg (nuclear power phrasing out) may be pragmatic for Japan government in case of electricity supply now, however, the government should not underestimate and overlook the voice and power of anti-nuclear power camp. The only way to get rid of the dilemma between the two camps is developing safer nuclear power technologies, management skills and protection from radiation, or the technological breakthrough making renewable energy cost- effective.

Books by Wen-Pin Lin

Taiwan and Southeast Asia Soft Power and Hard Truths Facing China's Ascendancy, 2023

Cambodia has reiterated both its adherence to the One China policy and the ironclad brotherhood i... more Cambodia has reiterated both its adherence to the One China policy and the ironclad brotherhood it has with China, though Cambodia’s garment industry, which is inextricably linked to Taiwan, has contributed significantly to its economic development and increased the income of Cambodians by generating employment since the 1990s. Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP), launched in 2016, aimed to (re)build close economic and people-to-people relations with the Southeast Asian countries through soft power. Of all the NSP countries, Cambodia has been the hardest to win over. As the Taiwan government is aware of Cambodia’s alliance with China, it excluded the kingdom from its list of NSP priority countries from the beginning. Therefore, besides some Taiwan Banks setting up more branches after 2016 for the profitable carry trade, it is unsurprising that the NSP has achieved only the bare political and economic minimum in Cambodia. But Taiwan-based Garment makers and Banks indeed brought capital, technology, and expertise to Cambodia. They nurtured local talents and helped Cambodia with a new middle class emerging by job-generating and income-raising. Further, some Taiwan NGOs are dedicated to assisting Cambodia by conducting several projects of charity, education, poverty eradication, and empowerment in Cambodia. In so doing and operating with next to no official support, the Taiwan-based NGOs earned the gratitude and respect of the local governments and villagers so that they could work around Cambodia’s One China policy. They are faithful adherents to the principle of soft power, as they believe that establishing genuine people-to-people relations will yield positive changes.

Translocal Chinese: East Asian Perspective, 2020

Although anti-Chinese riots are rare in Cambodia, the ethnic Chinese in Cambodia during the Khmer... more Although anti-Chinese riots are rare in Cambodia, the ethnic Chinese in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era experienced some of the most severe repression in the world. The situation had improved by the 1990s, following the Hun Sen government's abolishment of discriminatory policies towards them. The positive opinion of the Cambodian-Chinese was given another boost when Chinese capital flooded into the country. Keeping a low profile in politics and contributing to the national economy through their businesses have been the ways in which the ethnic Chinese survived in Cambodia. This does not mean that they have had no interest in politics; rather, they have preferred to engage with it through patron-client relationships with ruling politicians through their businesses. However, as the main stakeholders of the Cambodian political economy and the main pipeline through which Chinese capital flows, the Cambodian-Chinese would be in the firing line should Chinese investment not work out in the long-term.

Southeast Asia: Statecraft in Motion, Taiwan: Wenzao Ursuline University Press, 2021

This article presents the impact of foreign capital on Cambodia since 2000. I argue that the stat... more This article presents the impact of foreign capital on Cambodia since 2000. I argue that the state has been able to steer foreign capital for the sake of the country in spite of the nation’s reliance on it. Cambodia has been able to do so by directing the inflows from the foreign investors and donors on which it is dependent. The author showcases how the system of electoral authoritarianism in the kingdom plays up its weak capacity, aid dependency and extreme pro-market policy to attract foreign investment and manipulate the inconsistency between rival donors’ interests so as to receive more ODA. This article finally conclude with theoretical perspectives that may go some way into explaining the future possible consequences of Cambodia’s actions towards FDI and ODA.

Chinese Political Science Review, Jun 2013

Japan is a country lacking indigenous natural resources, especially fossil fuels resources that a... more Japan is a country lacking indigenous natural resources, especially fossil fuels resources that are needed in the maintenance of infrastructure and rising economic activities. Japan therefore imported over 80% of its primary energy every year since WWII. The government and proponents of nuclear power claimed the advantages of nuclear power included stable power supplies, lower power cost, and no CO2 produced in power generation, As such, Japan sought energy autarky by developing nuclear power enthusiastically and became a country with 10 nuclear power plants with 54 nuclear reactors. However, the eastern Japan earthquake damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant in March 11 2011, which resulted in the second level 7 accident of the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale in history. The proponents of anti-nuclear power camps challenged the claimed benefits of nuclear power by government and nuclear power adherents. Based on the theory of national security, this article analyses the debates between pro-nuclear power and anti-nuclear power: while the former claims nuclear power is a “holy trinity” of energy security, economic efficiency and environment protection, the latter treats nuclear power as a “unholy trinity.” No Ausstieg (nuclear power phrasing out) may be pragmatic for Japan government in case of electricity supply now, however, the government should not underestimate and overlook the voice and power of anti-nuclear power camp. The only way to get rid of the dilemma between the two camps is developing safer nuclear power technologies, management skills and protection from radiation, or the technological breakthrough making renewable energy cost- effective.