Taiwan Strait a more reliable barrier than Korean border, says media mogul

Taiwanese media mogul Hsieh Chin-ho has challenged the notion that Taiwan is the world's most dangerous place, a label previously applied by The Economist. After visiting both North and South Korea, Hsieh concluded that Taiwan's 173-kilometer strait offers a more reliable barrier than the 38th parallel separating the Korean Peninsula.

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The system determines the destiny of a country and its people.

During his visits, Hsieh observed the stark differences between the two Koreas, separated by a heavily fortified border. He noted that North Korea has dug four underground tunnels, posing a direct threat. "The system determines the destiny of a country and its people," Hsieh stated, reflecting on 75 years of divergent paths. While North Korea relies on its nuclear arsenal and rhetoric, it holds little sway in the global economy.

Hsieh contrasted the economic might of South Korea, with a GDP of $1.93 trillion making it the 15th largest economy globally, against North Korea's $16.5 billion, ranking 150th. He recounted a visit to a North Korean cosmetics factory where the focus was on a sofa used by Kim Jong Un, rather than the products themselves. North Korea's economy is heavily dependent on China, with 98.2% of its trade attributed to its neighbor.

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If Japan is in trouble, Taiwan is not necessarily in trouble.

While acknowledging former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's statement that "If Taiwan is in trouble, Japan is in trouble," Hsieh advised Japanese friends that "If Japan is in trouble, Taiwan is not necessarily in trouble." He explained that the dispute between China and Taiwan centers on sovereignty, whereas Japan and China share a history of deep animosity, still depicted in Chinese media today. The 173-kilometer Taiwan Strait, he argued, is a more dependable buffer than the 38th parallel.

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Taiwan's 173km strait is more reliable than the 38th parallel.